By Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss

We postpone once again our crash course on tefilah for another Elul discussion.

The Torah teaches us the importance of the shanah rishonah, the first year of marriage.  It recommends, “Noki yihiyeh l’veiso shanah echas v’simach es ishto asher lakach – The husband should be free for his home for a year and gladden his wife who he took.”  Both Rabbeinu Efraim and the Bal HaTurim point out that the last letters of the words noki yihiyeh l’veiso shanah, spells the ineffable Name of Hashem yudkei (hei), vavkei (hei).  Rabbeinu Efraim explains that since this is in juxtaposition to the word v’simach, to enjoy, it teaches us, “Ein haShechina shora ela mitoch simcha – The Divine Presence only rests upon one who is happy.”

In my recent Q&A for Irgun Shiurei Torah, I was asked, “If the Divine Presence only devolves upon a person when he is in a state of joy, how did Yermiyah the prophet prophesize Eichah, Lamentations, when he was in a state of deep mourning.  I answered that the default position of a Jew is one of joy, as it says, “Ivdu es Hashem b’simcha – Serve Hashem with joy,” and therefore that is normally when the Divine Presence will be found.  But, at the time of the destruction of the Temple, the proper mood was one of mourning and therefore it was suitable for prophecy.

The Bal HaTurim explains the proximity of Hashem’s Ineffable Name to v’simach es ishto, rejoicing in one’s wife, is to convey the important lesson that even behind closed doors, Hashem’s Eyes are upon the couple watching how they behave with one another.  By a chuppah, at the end of the marriage ceremony, the chossan, the groom, breaks a glass.  The well-known reason is to remember the destruction of the Temple and to recall that even at the height of our joy we are thinking about our missing Temple.  But, the Rabbeinu Bachya gives another reason.  He says that it is to recall the breaking of the luchos, the first tablets.  Why do we remember this at a marriage ceremony?  Our Rabbis explain that it is to convey the important message that the first tablets that were given in front of millions of people ended up in smithereens.  But, the second tablets that were given very privately to Moshe Rabbeinu endure forever.  So too, we are teaching our new chossan and kallah that it is what they do behind closed doors, in the privacy of their chambers, is what makes the marriage strong and enduring.

I would like to add that the Ineffable Name is next to the v’simach es ishto because when a man gladdens his wife in the way that only a husband can, that is what brings the Shechina down to the couple.  When it says, “Ish v’isha shalom beineihem, Shechina shruyah beineihem – Husband and wife, when there is peace between them, the Divine Presence devolves upon them,” this manifests itself especially during marital intimacy.  It is then that the letter yud in ish (the husband) merges with the letter hei in isha (the wife) and synthesizes to become Yud-HeiKah (the Name of Hashem).

In the merit of our always bettering this vital area, may Hashem bless us with long life, good health, and everything wonderful.

Start the cycle of Mishna Yomis anytime with Rabbi Weiss by dialing Kol Halashon at 718.906.6471.  Listen to Rabbi Weiss’s daily Shiur on Orchos Chaim l’HaRosh by dialing 718.906.6400, then going to selection 4 for Mussar, and then to selection 4.   Both are FREE services.
Rabbi Weiss is currently stepping up his speaking engagements.  To bring him to your community, call (718) 916-3100 or email RMMWSI@aol.com.
Rabbi Weiss’s Rebbetzin, Shoshy Weiss, LCSW-R is moving her therapy practice from Monroe and Monsey to Boro Park and Staten Island.  She will be in Boro Park on Mondays and Staten Island on Tuesdays.  She caters to women and girls only and specializes in the treatment of anxiety, low self-esteem issues, depression, trauma, and relationship enhancement.  She is a specialist in EMDR and IFS (Internal Family Systems) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).  She has been practicing for over two decades.  To get a slot, call or text 845.270.3699.
Shelley Zeitlin takes dictation of, and edits, Rabbi Weiss’s articles.
To receive a weekly cassette tape or CD directly from Rabbi Weiss, please send a check to Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss, P.O. Box 140726, Staten Island, NY 10314 or contact him at RMMWSI@aol.com.