Second Impressions

The Talmud asks: “How does one sing the bride's praises to the groom? The House of Shammai holds: Describe her as you see her” — praise her beauty only if she is beautiful…

“The House of Hillel holds: Always say, ‘what a beautiful and graceful bride!’”

Every bride is indeed beautiful to her groom, and the proof is that he is marrying her. Her grace and beauty in his eyes obviously outshines any imperfections. Hillel holds: the groom sees details which you may not see; you too, then, must ignore superficial impressions, and praise her beauty.

A lesson: When one sees a fellow Jew, at first glance he may appear “unattractive.” But the Jewish People are G-d’s bride. If G-d chose this Jew, He knows exactly who and what he is. To claim that G-d’s bride is not beautiful is utter nonsense! “The bride is beautiful and graceful!”