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 Heaven and Earth
For the Mind, Body, and Soul
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| One is Greater Than Two By Reb Gutman Locks Since each mitzvah is designed to produce certain spiritual results in this world and in the next, and some mitzvahs only apply to men, then how do women satisfy their spiritual needs when such mitzvahs as tefillin and tzitzit (fringes worn on the four corners of a man’s garment) satisfy only men’s spiritual needs? Does this mean that women do not need or receive such elevations? When a man and woman come together to make a family, there has to be certain guidelines. For their marriage to be considered successful in the secular world, the man and woman must be equal partners. “It’s only fair.” Neither partner has more rights or privileges than the other. This, in a practical sense, means, “I did the dishes yesterday, dear. It’s your turn to do them today.” Although this might seem to be an ideal working relationship, the Torah world says that it leads to disaster, even war! A Torah marriage is based on the principle that each person is actually one half, and that these two halves have to come together to make a complete one. Adam, the first man, was created with both male and female characteristics. G-d created woman by taking her from Adam’s own body. G-d separated the female aspect of Adam and made what He took from Adam into a new person. Marriage is the natural return of these two separate units, back into the one they were created to be. Although both of these halves have certain things in common, such as the need for peace, health and security, each also has its own unique needs. Just as the hand was designed to lift things, and the leg was made to support the body’s weight, so too, men were designed with certain needs and abilities and women were created with different needs and abilities. Men have a particular nature that their mitzvahs reign in and develop, while women have different requirements that their duties and mitzvahs satisfy. His mitzvahs help him to fulfill his purpose, and her mitzvahs help her to fulfill hers. For instance, man is commanded to have children. This is his mitzvah. This certainly does not seem to make any sense at all. What great share does he contribute to the child that it should be called his mitzvah and not hers? Women are born with a strong and natural desire – and ability – to have children. This is within their nature. The instant the child is born the mother experiences a tremendous moment of spiritual fulfillment. She has actually created a human being! A man cannot possibly know such satisfaction from a physical act. A woman wants a child very badly. Man does not have such a tremendous need for children. His pressing need is for the woman, not for the baby. So man must be commanded to have children. He must be commanded to elevate his natural, animal urge for the mere physical relationship, and to use it instead to create a family. Women do not need such a commandment. The need is already built in. Does this mean that the woman does not need the spiritual result that comes from tefillin and the other male-oriented mitzvahs? No. It means that she gets the spiritual benefit of these mitzvahs by having merged with and having become one with her husband. In the next world, the brilliant light that comes from the woman’s Shabbos candles will elevate the husband’s soul just as it elevates the soul of the woman who actually lit them. And the spiritual strength that was developed by the husband putting on tefillin will elevate his wife’s soul just as it elevates his. Here we see that one is greater than two. See Gutman's Books |
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