bright Venus shone in the western sky. I was brimming with love, and as I used my most seductive voice to chant the incantation, I found myself invoking the Eternal that not only should Dakya’s heart burn for Chatoi, but Rava’s should continue to burn for me.
Only those closest to me, including Dakya, Chatoi, and their families, were able to understand my words, but everyone in range of my voice could feel the passion and persuasion in it. Venus sparkled intensely as I finished, and I knew the angels had heard me. Nobody wanted to break the silence, so it seemed a very long time before Dakya whispered his thanks, followed by Chatoi and their mothers. Women in the crowd suddenly noticed the lateness of the hour and realized they needed to return home to finish preparing for Shabbat.
But the gate was blocked by a commotion, and one man’s angry voice rose above the others. “What the devil is going on here?”
Aghast, Dakya and Chatoi could only stare at each other, while Gerbita blurted out, “Oh no, that’s my husband!”
Em took Gerbita’s hand. “There is nothing he can do now. The spell is cast.”
I had to face the man, so I prepared to assume my most imposing charasheta persona. But then I recognized another man’s voice, a deeply authoritative one, one so persuasive the angry man was forced to listen.
I turned to the lovers’ families and smiled. “Don’t worry. Rava is talking to him now, and nobody is better at convincing an opponent to alter his opinion.”
• • •
Rava didn’t mention Dakya or Chatoi for a week, until Abaye bounded into the traklin for the midday meal, his face beaming with pleasure. When Rava entered at a more sedate pace, Abaye slapped him gleefully around the shoulders.
“He did it, Em. He and Hisdadukh did it,” Abaye shouted. “The wedding will be next week.”
“Thank Heaven,” I said.
“Dakya’s father was a tough negotiator,” Rava said to me. “I never could have convinced him if you hadn’t cast that spell on his son first.”
I wanted to cry with disappointment. If I hadn’t been one of the combatants, I might have thought our fight over love spells had never happened. Clearly Rava had not recognized the implications.
“Threatening him with a mi shepara curse was a brilliant idea,” Abaye said. “He came around quickly after that.”
“What is a mi shepara curse?” Homa asked at the same time that I said, “I thought the mi shepara curse was for someone who reneged on a business transaction.”
Abaye turned to Homa and said gently, “A Mishna teaches that if a buyer gives a seller money but has not yet taken the produce, either may retract. But the Sages say this about one who reneges on an agreement: He Who ( mi ) exacted retribution ( shepara ) from the Generation of the Flood and from the Generation of Babel’s Dispersion will exact retribution from one who does not abide by his word.”
Rava addressed my concern. “The curse says nothing about a specific kind of transaction. The Mishna speaks of business agreements because those are the ones people renege on most commonly.”
“I would merely have warned him of Elohim’s curse, but Rava intimated that he intended to curse the man himself.” Abaye shook his head in disbelief, but his voice was full of awe.
“And I would have,” Rava declared.
“Enough about curses. When is the wedding?” Em asked.
“On Fourth Day,” Abaye replied. “As usual for virgins.”
Em winked at me. “I hope you have something nice to wear.” When I looked at her in alarm, she continued, “After what you did to facilitate the match, you will certainly be a special guest of the bride’s family.”
“I suppose I must attend as well, and not just because it is expected.” Rava sighed with resignation. “My presence will be needed to ensure that the nuptials take place as planned.”
“I’m sure you four will have a wonderful time,” Homa’s voice was wistful. “I’ll stay
Only those closest to me, including Dakya, Chatoi, and their families, were able to understand my words, but everyone in range of my voice could feel the passion and persuasion in it. Venus sparkled intensely as I finished, and I knew the angels had heard me. Nobody wanted to break the silence, so it seemed a very long time before Dakya whispered his thanks, followed by Chatoi and their mothers. Women in the crowd suddenly noticed the lateness of the hour and realized they needed to return home to finish preparing for Shabbat.
But the gate was blocked by a commotion, and one man’s angry voice rose above the others. “What the devil is going on here?”
Aghast, Dakya and Chatoi could only stare at each other, while Gerbita blurted out, “Oh no, that’s my husband!”
Em took Gerbita’s hand. “There is nothing he can do now. The spell is cast.”
I had to face the man, so I prepared to assume my most imposing charasheta persona. But then I recognized another man’s voice, a deeply authoritative one, one so persuasive the angry man was forced to listen.
I turned to the lovers’ families and smiled. “Don’t worry. Rava is talking to him now, and nobody is better at convincing an opponent to alter his opinion.”
• • •
Rava didn’t mention Dakya or Chatoi for a week, until Abaye bounded into the traklin for the midday meal, his face beaming with pleasure. When Rava entered at a more sedate pace, Abaye slapped him gleefully around the shoulders.
“He did it, Em. He and Hisdadukh did it,” Abaye shouted. “The wedding will be next week.”
“Thank Heaven,” I said.
“Dakya’s father was a tough negotiator,” Rava said to me. “I never could have convinced him if you hadn’t cast that spell on his son first.”
I wanted to cry with disappointment. If I hadn’t been one of the combatants, I might have thought our fight over love spells had never happened. Clearly Rava had not recognized the implications.
“Threatening him with a mi shepara curse was a brilliant idea,” Abaye said. “He came around quickly after that.”
“What is a mi shepara curse?” Homa asked at the same time that I said, “I thought the mi shepara curse was for someone who reneged on a business transaction.”
Abaye turned to Homa and said gently, “A Mishna teaches that if a buyer gives a seller money but has not yet taken the produce, either may retract. But the Sages say this about one who reneges on an agreement: He Who ( mi ) exacted retribution ( shepara ) from the Generation of the Flood and from the Generation of Babel’s Dispersion will exact retribution from one who does not abide by his word.”
Rava addressed my concern. “The curse says nothing about a specific kind of transaction. The Mishna speaks of business agreements because those are the ones people renege on most commonly.”
“I would merely have warned him of Elohim’s curse, but Rava intimated that he intended to curse the man himself.” Abaye shook his head in disbelief, but his voice was full of awe.
“And I would have,” Rava declared.
“Enough about curses. When is the wedding?” Em asked.
“On Fourth Day,” Abaye replied. “As usual for virgins.”
Em winked at me. “I hope you have something nice to wear.” When I looked at her in alarm, she continued, “After what you did to facilitate the match, you will certainly be a special guest of the bride’s family.”
“I suppose I must attend as well, and not just because it is expected.” Rava sighed with resignation. “My presence will be needed to ensure that the nuptials take place as planned.”
“I’m sure you four will have a wonderful time,” Homa’s voice was wistful. “I’ll stay
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