MUSICAL SCHOOL
We have been using the model of the orchestra as the vehicle by which to appreciate Man’s relationship to HaShem and his role in the world. HaShem is our Conductor, we are the musicians and the world is our audience.
As we read Parshas Breishis, the Torah teaches us about the nature of this musician and how he is wired. To play his part in HaShem’s symphony Man must be able to become Godly in some way. Creatures that are not Godly have difficulty communicating with HaShem and consequently cannot participate in His orchestra. It was therefore critical to design Man in a way that he could achieve Godliness.
What is Godliness and how does one achieve it?
Godliness expresses itself when one can go beyond his own personal interests and care for another. HaShem has no needs and gains nothing from His creation of the world. HaShem’s purpose of creation was to create another and to give to them. Hence, caring and giving to others with no personal interest is Godly.
All creatures including Man are instinctively focused on their own needs. Those animals that care for their young do so only because they see themselves in their young and hence that instinctive self fulfillment accomplishes the welfare of the offspring. Man, however, is unique; although he, too, has that instinctive self fulfillment, he is nevertheless able to look and care for others beyond his own interest. This is Godliness and when Man practices this he becomes Godly.
When HaShem created the members of the animal kingdom He created all of them in male and female form designed to mate and propagate their species. Only Man was created in a singular body which possessed both the male and the female. Our Sages point out that in that state Adam was able to repro-duce as we see that HaShem blessed him along with the rest of the world to be fruitful and multiply. After they were al-ready created HaShem expressed that it is not good for man and his wife to be in one form and separated them into two separate entities.
What was the purpose of creating them in one body if they were to be separated later?
The answer is that Man’s mate is not simply a female form of himself. She is actually a part of him. The same care he has for his nose and his ear and his ultimate destiny he must have for his wife as well. The instinctive self fulfilment must apply to his wife. However, ever since HaShem separated the two of them this is not an easy task. From the moment he is born until many years later he never knew this person and with marriage he must entirely give himself up to her! This is what makes marriage challenging. His task is to see his wife as part of himself. This is a life long exercise in Godliness.
It is no wonder why the Torah refers to marriage as a state of holiness, Kidushin. It is the basis upon which us mortal folks can become Godly and ultimately communicate successfully with the Conductor and play our role in His orchestra be-fore the entire world. I guess you could say that marriage is like music school.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind