Sex, Marriage and Family in World Religions by Witte Green Browning Page B

betrothal—what does one say?—Rabin b.
    Rabbi Adda and Rabbah son of Rabbi Adda both said in the name of Rab Judah: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and has commanded us concerning the forbidden relations and has forbidden unto us the betrothed and has allowed unto us the wedded through [the marriage] canopy and betrothal. Rabbi Aha, the son of Raba, concludes it, in the name of Rab Judah, [with the words]: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who sanctifies Israel through canopy and betrothal. . . . Our Rabbis taught: The blessing of the bridegrooms is said in the presence of ten [persons] all seven days [after the wedding]. Rab Judah said: And that is only if new guests come. What does one say? Rab Judah said: “Blessed art Thou, O
    Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has created all things to his glory.”
    and “the Creator of man,” and “who has created man in his image, in the image of the likeness of his form, and has prepared unto him out of himself a building for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, Creator of man.” “May the barren greatly rejoice and exult when her children will be gathered in her midst in joy. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who maketh Zion joyful through her children.” “Mayest Thou make the loved companions greatly to rejoice, even as of old Thou didst gladden Thy creature in the Garden of Eden. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who maketh bridegroom and bride to rejoice.” “Blessed art Thou, O Lord our King, God of the universe, who has created joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, rejoicing. song, mirth. and delight, love, and brotherhood, and peace, and friendship.” “O Speedily, O Lord our God. may be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of the singing of bridegrooms from their canopies and of youths from their feasts of song. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who maketh the bridegroom to rejoice with the bride.”
    [ Babylonian Talmud ]
    Document 1–29
    t r a c t a t e y e b a m o t 6 2 b – 6 4 a Rabbi Tanhum stated in the name of Rabbi Hanilai: Any man who has no wife lives without joy, without blessing, and without goodness. . . .
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    m i c h a e l s . b e r g e r
    In the West it was stated: Without Torah and without a [protecting]
    wall. . . . Raba b. “Ulla said: Without peace. . . . ”
    Rabbi Joshua b. Levi said: Whosoever knows his wife to be a God-fearing woman and does not duly visit her conjugally is called a sinner; for it is said, “You will know that all is well with your household,” etc. [Job 5:24]
    Rabbi Joshua b. Levi further stated: It is a man’s duty to pay a visit to his wife when he starts on a journey; for it is said, “You will know that all is well with your household, etc.” [Job 5:24] Is this deduced from here? Surely it is deduced from the following: “You shall be eager for your husband” [Gen. 3:16]
    teaches that a woman yearns for her husband when he sets out on a journey!— Rabbi Joseph replied: This was required only in the case where her menstruation period was near. And this applies only [when the journey is] for a secular purpose, but when for a religious purpose [it does not apply, since then] people are in a state of anxiety. . . .
    Rabbi Eleazar said: Any man who has no wife is no proper man; for it is said, “He created them male and female, and on the day when he created them, he blessed them and called them man” [Gen. 5:2]. . . .
    Rabbi Eleazar further stated: What is the meaning of the Scriptural text, “I will provide a partner for him”? [Gen. 2:18] If he was worthy she is a help to him; if he was not worthy she is against him. . . .
    Rabbi Jose met Elijah and asked him: It is written, “I will make him a help”; how does a woman help a man? The other replied: If a man brings wheat, does he chew the wheat? If flax, does he put on the flax?