Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: At the end of the day, like all things, marriage is partially what you make of it and how hard you work at it. Remember, bringing two people together, even two halves of the same whole, can be challenging and requires understanding and compromise

1. 9/11/22, 7:25 AM Surviving Marriage Meshugas | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
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THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Leadership With Heart
Surviving Marriage
Meshugas
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2. 9/11/22, 7:25 AM Surviving Marriage Meshugas | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
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Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal
In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, there is a whole section pertaining to
Jewish laws of marriage. In light of this, I thought I’d share a few brief lessons
that I learned from a number of influential people in my life about this holy
union.
Communication is key.
The Chabad Rabbi in our town told us today about a couple that was dating. At
the time, the man seemed to do all the talking and the woman did all the
listening. But then, for the first few years after marriage, things reversed: the
woman was doing all the talking and the man was doing the listening. Five years
into the marriage, both the man and the woman were doing all the talking and
all the yelling, and now the neighbors were doing all the listening.
Marriage can be hard.
My father used to tell a joke about a woman that goes to the doctor and she
comes out all upset and says to her husband, “The doctor told me that I have

3. 9/11/22, 7:25 AM Surviving Marriage Meshugas | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
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tuberculosis and am going to die soon.” The husband looks at his wife and,
wincing his eyes, he says to her: “The doctor didn’t say you have tuberculosis
and are going to die soon; he said you have a tuchus colossal and need to go on
a diet!”
Have a good sense of humor.
True story, coming back today after being invited for Shabbat lunch, my wife
and I had a pretty long walk home, and it was incredibly hot and humid today.
When we finally got home, I was feeling a little dizzy and sick, and went to lie
down for a couple of minutes. My wife comes in and asks me what was wrong,
and then she says innocently (I think), “It’s okay, you’re just a little dehydrated,
and you need to be liquidated!”
Staying Together is Half the Fun.
One of my best friends recently was marveling that he’s been married over thirty
years already, and he said to me: “I’m shocked that my wife still likes me after
all this time. No one that knows me that well likes me that much. [smiley] ” So
teasingly, I reply: “How do you know that she still likes you. LOL” To which my
friend replies with a good dose of honesty: “If she didn’t like me anymore, she
wouldn’t stick around!” Maybe the next provocative question could’ve been (but
smartly wasn’t), “But how do you know what she’s putting in your food?”
I guess at the end of the day, like all things, marriage is partially what you make
of it and how hard you work at it. Remember, bringing two people together, even
two halves of the same whole, can be challenging and requires understanding
and compromise. The final lesson that I’ll share from Judaism is that it takes
three partners for a successful marriage: the man, the woman, and G-d. Without
the latter, probably none of us would survive even the first bliss-filled year. The
rest is icing on the wedding cake.

4. 9/11/22, 7:25 AM Surviving Marriage Meshugas | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.
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