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PAGE 14 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE February 14, 1986 and a whole lot more! ExecuFLower SERVICE For your Valentine * Long stem roses — Fresh or Chocolate * Balloons — in a box or bunch * Flower arrangements f Candy Baskets , A Jewish view Valentine’s Day by Rabbi Bernard S. Raskas WNS-Seven Arts ■■■■■■■■■»«*■■■■■■■■■■ jiii «■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■I IIHII «■■■■■■■ Considering A Decorator? v Let us find the right decorator for you . ; . . ^ We represent top interior designers from Atlanta and New York. A Our consultant will show you slides aind photographs of decorators’ work. A We match your taste, style and budget with just the right designer for you. Residential A Commercial | WATCH FOR US! I Designer Referral I Suzanne Engel ■ | (404) 393-3831 Valentine’s Day is popular because of its primary association with love; however, the origin of this day is rather obscure. Some believe it is traced to the ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia. Others think it has to do with a Christian martyr named Valentine. Still others link it with an old English belief that birds chose their mates on Feb. 14. There is yet one more school who believes that it comes from the Norman word galantin which means “a lover of women.” It is probably a combination of all of these. By the 17th century the custom of sending valentines to one’s favorite developed. At first these were simple homemade items but by 1800 the first commercial valentines began to appear. Then there developed the in teresting feature of commercial valentines. Today, the post office estimates that over half a million valentines are sent out and this, of course, does not include those we give by hand. So one can safely assume that well over a million valentines are exchanged today. So much for that. But, what about the Jewish view of Valentine’s Day? It might surprise us to learn that there was a Jewish Valentine’s Day during the time when the Temple stood. The following selection from the Talmud is fascinating: Rabbi Simeon ben Gamliel said: There were no happier days for the Jewish people than the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur, on which the young girls of Jerusalem would venture forth. All of them would Something Different Has Finally Come To Atlanta Exclusive Representative of Tunisian Rugs in the United States Receive a handmade bird cage or a handmade tapestry free with the purchase of an Oriental Rug : <H> | THE ORIENTAL RUG COLLECTION Tuxedo Festival, 3655 Roswell Rd., Suite 118 Atlanta, Georgia (404) 231-1805 Mon.-Sat. 10-6, Sun. 1-5 dress in simple white garments, borrowed from each other, so that not even the poorest among them need be embarrassed. . . They would venture forth to dance in the vineyards. What would they sing as they danced?“Lift up your eyes, young man, and look around that you might make your choice. Look not for beauty, but look for family. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a God-fearing woman is much to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30). This passage reveals the typical rabbinic overtones of equality and stressing that essential attributes are not physical but spiritual. However, not all rabbis were strict moralists and some of them were very warm and understanding human beings. There is a very beautiful little passage to be found in a sermon given by a Hassidic rabbi in the 18th century. He asks: “Why does it say in Genesis: ‘Be fruitful, and multiply? It is redundant. Wouldn’t it have been enough to say, ‘Be fruitful’?—or wouldn’t it have been enough to say, ‘multiply’? Why add something to the text?’ He explained: “This is to show that there must be a plus to marriage. Animals have sex and multiply. In marriage there must be more than a physical relationship. A husband and wife must bring love, tenderness and affection not only to the sexual act, but to their marriage.” We find many such passages in the 18th and 19th centuries which encourage expression of love. Marriage was viewed not only as a spiritual relationship and a familial one but also one that involved romance and love. We have pictures of women during these times and they were dressed in the best of fashion of their times. Indeed, research will demonstrate to us that romantic love is found in the Bible in an entire book named “The Song of Songs.” Perhaps, if more people read it carefully in our day they might give it an “X” rating. When it comes to passages on love, there is a charming story taken from shtetl life. A scholarly man said to Rabbi Abraham of Stretyn: “It is said that you give people strange drugs and that your drugs are most marvelous. Give me one such drug that I may attain the fear of the Lord.” “I know of no such drug,” said Rabbi Abraham. “But if you wish I can give you one for the love of God.” “All the better!” exclaimed the other. “Just you see that I get it.” “It is the love of one’s fellow human being.” an swered the rabbi. Love to the Jew is not just something for Valentine’s Day but for every day. Warmth, affection and tenderness is something that can make each relationship a little bit nicer and each day a little more pleasant. Since on Valentine’s Day it is traditional to send greetings to loved ones, the following quotations might be appropriate for a Jewish valentine’s message: From The Song of Songs: “Your love is better than wine.” From the Apocrypha: “Wine and song rejoice the heart but better than that is the affection of lovers.” From Judah Al-Harizi: “O lovely maiden, thou hast drawn my heart.” From Emanual di Roma: “Your eyes bewitch me, a glance thrills all my soul with wild delight.” From Abraham ibn Ezra: “Your face brightens the day.” From Heinrich Heine: “You are my love. You are my dearest friend.” From the Yiddish: “Love me a little less but love me longer,” or “For a little love I would give my whole life.” From the Talmud: “When two souls kiss they are united in love.” Students at American Yeshiva once had a humorous Valentine’s Day party and decided to write their own messages for a Jewish valentine’s card. This is the one that everyone agreed was best: Roses are reddish Violets are blueish I love you Because you are Jewish. C,DELUXE KOSHER WORLD PASSOVER TOURS ¥33? WIDE 3 FRESHLY PREPARED GlATT KOSHER MEALS DAILY >2 TRADITIONAL SEDER SEEN ICES ► TOP NAME ENTERTAINMENT N.Y. Area Acapulco COPACABANA POSADA DEL SOL Bahamas AMBASSADOR BEACH St. Thomas Virgin Islands VIRGIN ISLE HOTEL California RIVIERA HILTON Palm Springs THE NEWPORTER Newport Beach Florida FOUNTAINBLEAU HILTON INNISBROOK RESORT SHERATON BAL HARBOUR SANSSOUCI TAMIMENT RESORT Pocono M/s PA HARBOR ISLAND SPA Long Branch NJ 25 W. 43 Stmt, NYC 10036, (212) 575-8840 Outside N.Y. Stale Toll Free 800-752-8000