Rebbetzin Esther Offengenden
The Rambam writes about three levels of love:
| 1. Lowest. “Love based on pleasure.” 2. Middle. “Love based on benefit.” 3. Highest. Love that depends on nothing—true love. |
Next comes the second level—“Love based on benefit.” The word benefit here should be understood more as reciprocity.
The family now lives as a single whole, capable of tackling life's tasks together.
Most of these tasks concern everyday needs—in other words, the foundations of life. During this period, we are together not because it is pleasurable, but because that is life. Home, children, a career, bills, the present and the future.
In childhood we were carefree, in youth we had fun; adult life gives us responsibility, and with it freedom.
The Chofetz Chaim married for a second time, choosing a woman who was neither wealthy nor of distinguished lineage, although he had received very flattering marriage proposals. He later said that it was only because of her willingness to share all of life's difficulties, that he was able to write his books.
to be continued