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What transforms initial attraction into lasting love? The Ba'al HaTurim's insight on Yitzchok and Rivka reveals that true love only develops through genuine commitment and obligation. Without real investment of time, effort, and resources, relationships remain fundamentally narcissistic rather than transcendent.
Rabbi Zweig examines a Ba'al HaTurim on Parshas Toldos regarding Yitzchok's marriage to Rivka, focusing on the verse 'vaye'ehaveha' (and he loved her). The Ba'al HaTurim contrasts this love with Amnon's love for Tamar, connecting it to the Mishnaic teaching about love that depends on external factors versus love that transcends such dependencies. The key insight is that the same word 'vaye'ehav' describes both types of love, but the context reveals their fundamental difference. The shiur's central thesis is that true love (ahavah she'einah tluyah bedavar) can only develop when there are real obligations and commitments in the relationship. Rabbi Zweig explains that before Yitzchok took Rivka as his wife with full marital obligations ('vayikach lo le'ishah'), any feelings would have been self-centered. Only through commitment, financial responsibility, and genuine obligation does love transcend its initial reasons and become truly selfless.
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Parshas Toldos - Yitzchak's marriage to Rivka
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