We have seen how Man and Woman are a physical representation of the Divine Mysteries, and their union represents a Unification of the Divine, and actually helps bring about that Unification. Can you imagine how marriages would be if everyone looked at their spouse as part of the Divine Mystery? If everyone looked upon sex as a means of fulfilling the Universe? The kabbalistic texts explain every aspect of human intimacy as reflecting a process above. The embracing, the kissing (the lips represent two of the Sefirot!) as well as the actual act of love are all expounded on in these texts. When one speaks words of love and adoration to one's spouse, we are also saying these words to G-d! I mentioned in my last post that the male represents the letter Vav of the Divine Name. It is clearly emphasized in Kabbalah that it is no coincidence that the male member is shaped like the letter Vav. It is to be remembered that the Brit-the Covenant of Circumcision, is sealed in the male member. Here, we come to a two way street.
We have seen how the love between husband and wife is a most sacred bond, especially at the moment of union. However, we read in the Torah (Genesis 17:1) that when G-d gave the command of circumcision to Abraham, he said "...I am G-d, Shad-dai, walk before Me and be perfect..." The Divine Name Shad-dai, one of ten divine names used in the Torah, literally means "Mighty". But it is interpreted in Midrash as "She-dai" (that is enough). The rabbis of the Talmud say that this is a hint against idolatry; "there is enough in My Divinity for everyone, you need seek no false gods". The Kabbalists understand this in terms of sex as well; "what I have permitted to you and given to you is enough, you mustn't seek illicit pleasure with those whom I have forbade you, or in unsanctified relationships". A payer to G-d is a beautiful thing. That same prayer, directed to a pagan deity, is an abomination. The Name Shad-dai is spiritually inscribed with our circumcision, and is indelible.The Divine Name sits, as it were, at the very point of a man's pleasure, demanding he examine to whom this potentially beautiful act is directed. The holier the act, the more subject it is to profanation. This is the concept of "Shmirat HaBrit" (guarding the Covenant). How much joy and holiness marital relations can bring! How much pain and emptiness do we experience with meaningless "hookups"!
There is a remarkable statement in the Talmud that Jerusalem is the "Gate to Heaven". There is another statement that the entrance to Gehinnom (purgatory) is between two palm trees at the gate to Jerusalem. When coming to holiness, or coming to love, we must choose wisely. It may seem like the same thing, but that is illusion.