The Ceremonial Tablets of Marriage

"When He (God) finished ("ככלתו") speaking to him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two Tablets ("לחת") of Testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God" [Exodus: 31: 18]

When examining the word "ככלתו", one may notice that it is missing a letter; often times the Torah does this in order to allude to a deeper concept. In the context of our verse it should be written as "ככלותו", with an extra "ו". Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, famed as the author of the first comprehensive commentary on the Torah) comments that the word "ככלתו" can also be translated as "like his bride". He explains that the Tablets were given over to Moshe like a bride is given over to a groom. I believe that through this explanation, one may derive a fundamental idea pertaining to the relationship between man and woman in marriage. First and foremost, the main question we must answer is: What similarity exists between the two tablets and marriage?

Going back to our verse, if one were to analyze the word "לחת", one may notice that it is missing a letter as well. The Hebrew word for "Tablets", written in plural form, should be "לחות", with an extra "ו". By taking out the "ו", the word can also be read as if it was in singular form. Rashi explains that the Torah is hinting at the idea that although there were two separate and distinct tablets, they were in fact equal to one another.

Yafeh Toar (Classic massive commentary on the Midrash Rabbah, by R' Shmuel Yafeh Ashkenazi of Constantinople, 1525 – 1595) states that although in the plain sense, this refers to the actual size of the Tablets, it has a deeper meaning as well: The first tablet contained commandments concerning man's relationship with God, while the second tablet contained commandments concerning man's relationship with his fellow human beings. One can therefore say that the first tablet was a heaven-focused tablet, while the second was an earth-focused tablet. By stating that the two tablets were equal means that both kinds of commandments are equal in man's service to God; we must give the same priority to both the "heavenly" commandments and the "earthly" commandments.

This idea is expressed further in the end of our verse. The tablets are illustrated as possessing a dual nature; on the one hand they are described as earthly "stone tablets", while on the other hand they are depicted as heavenly, for they were "inscribed by the finger of God". Again, this alludes to the idea that our earthly pursuits are meant to be equal to our heavenly pursuits in our religious observance.

This idea can be explained on a slightly different, yet deeper level: The Tablets were described in singular form because they were in fact one tablet! Meaning, not only do we have to give equal status to our mundane and spiritual pursuits, we must merge them into one! The very earthly actions we perform must be done with spiritual intention as well. Every piece of food we eat should be with the mindset that we are eating God's food and that we are sustaining ourselves in order to serve God even further. Every hand we shake should be shook with the intention that we are fulfilling God's will by maintaining a positive relationship amongst His creations. The mundane is not merely equal to the spiritual, it IS the spiritual.

This understanding is critical for a man and woman entering into marriage together. At first glance, the unification of man and woman is probably the most earthly action we could perform. Not only is it focused on physical pleasure, it is also the basis for human survival! However, when approached from a different perspective one will realize that reproduction is actually the greatest spiritual achievement one can ever attain. Man is made "in the image of God", and we are therefore expected to emulate Him. What greater way is there to emulate God's ways than bringing a child into this world? Through reproduction, we become partners in God's creation! The vital element of marriage is to recognize the oneness of the physical and spiritual dimensions.

May we all be blessed to merge our physical side with our spiritual side, and enter into long lasting, loving, and pure marriages.



Good Shabbos,

NZL