Marriage as One Entity: Halachic Perspectives on Union and Devotion

Rabbi Zweig begins by examining a fundamental halachic principle: a wife is not considered a relative to her husband, but rather they are considered one entity ("Ishto k'gufo"). This has practical implications in Jewish law, such as in testimony cases where relatives are disqualified as witnesses, but a spouse is not disqualified because they are considered one with the defendant, not a separate witness. This stands in stark contrast to secular society's view of marriage as a partnership between two separate entities that can be dissolved at will, whereas Jewish marriage represents an amputation when severed because it involves splitting one unified being. The rabbi explains that this unity reflects the divine genetic code of humanity - male and female components that form one complete entity, whether housed in one body or two. He identifies three fundamental aspects that define a person's identity: marriage (spouse), home (bayit), and profession. These are not merely possessions or activities but core elements of one's being, determined at the moment of conception as part of one's spiritual genetic code.