Husband  and Wife 

בעל ואישה

Married life is vital for a man, and he is not considered whole until he finds his partner. A man’s blessing, happiness, and joy are attained thanks to his wife. 

“It is not good that the man shall be alone; I will make for him a helper alongside him” (Genesis 2:18).<footnote data-num="8"/> Rabbi Yaakov taught: Anyone who does not have a wife is without goodness, without a helper…without joy…without atonement…without blessing….

Rabbi Shimon says in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: He is even without peace…Rabbi Yehoshua of Sakhnin says in the name of Rabbi Levi: Even without life….  

Rabbi Hiyya bar Gamda: He is not even a whole man, as it is stated: “He blessed them, and He called their name Man” (Genesis 5:2), indicating that the two of them together are called Man. Some say: It even diminishes the image,<footnote data-num="9"/> as it is stated: “As He made man in the image of God” (Genesis 9:6); what is written immediately after it? “And you, be fruitful, and multiply” (Genesis 9:7).

The Sages taught: Who is wealthy…Rabbi Akiva says: Anyone who has a wife who is pleasant in her deeds.  

“Therefore, everyone who is devoted to You should pray at the time of searching” (Psalms 32:6). Rabbi Hanina said: “The time of searching” – this is referring to a prayer to find a wife, as it is stated: “He who has found a wife has found goodness and elicits favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). 

In the West [the Land of Israel], when a man married a woman, customarily they would ask him: Matza or motzeh?<footnote data-num="10"/> Matza, as it is written: “He who has found [matza] a wife has found goodness and elicits favor from the Lord,” or motzeh, as it is written: “I find [motzeh] more bitter than death the woman” (Ecclesiastes 7:26). <source>(Bereshit Rabba 17; Shabbat 25b; Berakhot 8a) </source>