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Why does Torah (תורה) marriage law seem to favor men, with only husbands initiating divorce and women exempt from many mitzvos? The answer lies in understanding that Torah marriage creates absolute oneness, not partnership. When two destined halves reunite (like Adam's original unified form), they become one entity where different roles serve the unified whole, just as body parts have different functions but share equally in the body's achievements.
This shiur presents a fundamental analysis of marriage according to Torah (תורה) philosophy, contrasting it sharply with secular concepts. Rabbi Zweig begins by addressing the difficult parsha of selling one's daughter as a maidservant (Exodus 21:7-11), noting how this passage paradoxically contains all the Torah's obligations for marriage support, clothing, and intimacy. He poses challenging questions about apparent inequalities in Torah marriage law, particularly why only the husband can initiate divorce and why women are exempt from many mitzvos. The core insight comes from a Talmudic teaching based on Esau's marriages. The rabbis explain that Esau's third wife was called both Mochalas (forgiven) and Basmas, teaching that when one marries, all sins are forgiven. This applies equally to converts and those receiving high appointments. Rabbi Zweig asks why this principle appears only with Esau's third marriage, not his first.
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Exodus 21:7-11 (Hebrew maidservant laws)
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