In the over 30 years I’ve been in kiruv I’ve regularly shared the idea that there’s no leap of faith in Judaism. Yiddishkeit is an evidence-based religion. But I know when I say that that it’s not entirely true. There is a leap of faith in Judaism and that leap is necessary to get married and stay married.
Shmully and Rivky have gone out ten times in six weeks. Shmully is starting to feel pressured by his mom and the shadchan to make a decision. He knows he likes Rivky but does he like her enough to marry her?
He goes to speak to his rebbi who asks him the following: “Do you enjoy spending time with her? Do you have what to speak about? Do you like how she looks? Is she machshiv your Torah learning? Does she respect you? Is there anything about her you really don’t like?”
If Shmully answers yes to the first five questions and no to the last one his rebbi will probably tell him to go ahead.
