MARRYING 2 WIVES [#17952]

January 2, 2022

QUESTION:

1) The Zohar says that before the soul comes down onto the world, it has a male half and a feminine half, and the two parts come together again through marriage, by the chuppah and kiddushin (betrothal). If so, why does the Torah permit a man to marry two wives? Which wife is the man’s true half? 2) Also, was it completely ideal in the times of our Avos to marry two wives or was this a pressing circumstance or because they needed to beget children?

ANSWER:

(1) A man has two halves – his upper half and his lower half. We see this by Yaakov, whose upper half was designated for Leah and whose lower half was designated for Rochel. This is a deep matter. (2) It was totally ideal for people in the times of the Avos to marry more than one wife.