יום ד Date: 14 Tishrei, 5774 (10/8/14) – Yevamos#4 {Eliezer}

PEOPLE PIECES

[4a bottom] R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky: The Book of Devarim is all about communal obligations and commandments, yet the Mitzvah of Yebum is quoted from Parshas Kei-Seitzei within it. This is because a Jewish marriage is not just about one man joining with one woman; it is a communal celebration. The Jewish people gain another beautiful faithful home in our nation when a wedding occurs. R’ Rosner: This is why the entire Shul does not say Tachanun (supplications) when a groom shows up; it is a joint happiness.

D-E-ep Thoughts: Marriage reminds us that we are a portion of something greater than our individual selves. Just as a man and woman are split pieces from the same soul (and need each other to be complete), so too all of our fellow Jews are portions of our one same G-d. When we recognize how close and connected we actually are to each other (R’ Gil Locks: like seemingly separate distinct fingers emerging from the same base hand), we can live on a higher spiritual plane and more easily care for our fellow Jews.