MATCH-MAKING

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well and enjoying summer.

Mazal Tov to Pesach on the purchase of his new accounting business in America. Wishing you much success Pesach, in both your gashmius and ruchnius pursuits!

The 15th of Av (Tu BeAv) symbolizes the transformation of the sorrow of exile, into the joy of Redemption.

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said "There were no days as joyous for the Jewish People as the 15th of Av and as Yom Kippur, when the daughters of Yerushalayim would go out in white clothes... And dance in the vineyards. And what would they say? 'Young man, please lift up your eyes and see what you choose for yourself for a wife. Do not set your eyes towards beauty, but towards a good family, as the verse states 'Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, only a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised." - Sanhedrin p26b

This raises many questions, and this is not made any clearer by another Beraisa which states "The Sages taught - What would the beautiful women among them say? Set your eyes toward beauty. What would those of distinguished lineage among them say? Set your eyes towards family, as a wife is only for children. What would the unattractive ones among them say? Acquire your purchase for the sake of Heaven.."

The Rebbe explains as follows - In these matchmaking events, both the young men and women were being called upon to live up to Judaism's highest spiritual ideals of marriage.

All the daughters of Jerusalem understood that nobility of spirit and devoutness were the measure of a person, and that they all possessed these qualities by being part of the same family ie part of the Jewish People.

In some, these qualities were well developed - the beautiful ones.

In others, these qualities were still below the surface - the unattractive ones.

But they all come from the same family, all with equal potential to blossom into a highly praiseworthy woman who fears the Lord.

The Rebbe says that the most important words in the Mishneh are the ones most overlooked ie "YOUNG MAN, PLEASE LIFT UP YOUR EYES"

The young women were saying, "if you don't see the beauty in me, then elevate your gaze, and then you will realize the true value of each of us."

The Gemorra tells a story of a young man who rejected a poor girl who he found unattractive. The great Sage Rabbi Yishmael took her into his home and took proper care of her. He later invited the young man to his home. Upon seeing the young lady, he found her most beautiful. The Rabbi then told the shocked boy, 'this is the same woman who you did not want to marry!' Rabbi Yishmael then wept and said 'The daughters of Israel are beautiful - it is only poverty that renders them ugly.' Nedarim 86b

Wishing all those who have not yet found their match, to find one soon, and it should be with great joy!