“Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it.”
(Song of Solomon 8:7)
Poor Jacob couldn’t catch a break.
After being tricked by his father-in-law into marrying his eldest daughter, Leah, the biblical patriarch labored an additional seven years to win the hand of his intended beloved, the younger daughter, Rachel.
Now that’s determination. Jacob knew how to give.
At its root, the Hebrew word for love, ahava, comes from the Aramaic phrase hav, which translates as “give.” That’s no accident.
No less than Erich Fromm, the German- born Jewish psychoanalyst and philosopher, wrote in his classic work “The Art of Loving,” “In the very act of giving, I experience my strength, my wealth, my power; I experience myself as overflowing … alive, hence as joyous.”
In other words, the more you give, the more you get back in return. Anyone who’s enjoyed a successful, joyful romantic relationship knows that giving is a key factor in sharing a life with someone.
For our annual “Love Issue,” we’ve profiled a pair of local Jewish couples — one new to wedded life and the other a seasoned union — who truly exemplify the spirit of giving, mutual respect and ahava.
The Pod Squad
While starting their new lives together, newlyweds Asher and Sophia Varon operate the Moishe Pod Federal Hill.
Love on Three Wheels
Married for 37 years, Pikesville residents David and Wendy Hefter originally met at an exercise class at the Park Heights JCC.
Blame It On the Bossa Nova
Dating in your 70s comes with its share of pleasures and pitfalls, writes Dara Bunjon.
Since February is the month when folks tend to think about relationships, romance and love, Jmore offers its annual "Love Issue," profiling four couples who somehow make it all work and embody the Jewish proverb, "Only love gives us the taste of eternity."
Not even a pandemic can slow down the power of love, as shown by the stories in this year's "Love Issue."