Not everyone knows that astrology’s roots are found in Jewish tradition, going back more than 3300 years. Since astrology is based on a lunar calendar and the dates of the solar month do not coincide, the standard astrological calendars are adapted and therefore begin from the 20th of the solar month. The astrological sign for the Jewish lunar month of Sivan is Gemini – the Twins. Since the holiday of Shavuot is in Sivan (the 6th of Sivan, this year May 17, and outside of Israel also on the 18th), we see that twins is a perfect fit. The Torah that was given by G-d to Moses on Mount Sinai was in two parts, the Written Law and the Oral Law. The Babylonian Talmud points out that only two of the zodiac signs are human. The reason given for Sivan is that only a human can extol, clap and dance with joy over this momentous archetypal event of the Giving of the Torah.
Jewish marriage also has a connection to twins. King Solomon’s Song of Songs (Shir HaShirim) describes an aspect of the love of a groom and a bride as akin to the love of brother and sister. Though of course, a brother and sister are forbidden by the Torah to marry, there are sources in the Zohar that praise when a couple actually are similar in age and look alike, similar to twins.
This reminded me of an amazing story that happened at Ascent twenty years ago. Josh and Heather (not their real names to protect their privacy), a newly observant couple in their early thirties, came to Ascent for their honeymoon, sent to us by a Chabad campus shaliach (emissary). They came because they wanted to immerse themselves in Judaism and holiness.
At least at first glance they were really an odd couple. Josh was handsome, smart, erudite and talented, running a successful business of innovative aids for the handicapped. Heather couldn’t be described as a beauty pageant contestant, needed hearing aids for both ears, and was missing three fingers from her right hand due to a birth defect, which I only noticed when I saw her write. She was intelligent, but I wondered what had attracted Josh to her.
As we began to get to know them, a remarkable story emerged. Five years before, Josh had a horrific motorcycle accident. His left leg was crushed and he relied on a prosthetic. He spent six months in very painful traction, his life on hold. That was how they had met. Heather would come to the hospital to teach bible. Her father was a minister. She never could relate to the New Testament but was enthralled by the Old Testament and gave classes whenever and wherever she could. After her class, she would go and visit the sick and became Josh’s regular visitor. Though not so interested, he even started studying bible with her. She became very important in his life, helping him through difficult periods of depression and self-doubt. After he was released from the hospital he continued to study with her and at some point decided to ask her to marry him. Because she was a Christian and he was Jewish and neither were interested in converting, they were at a loss to know who would marry them. Josh knew the local campus Chabad rabbi and they decided to go to him for advice.
The rabbi started to ask them questions and slowly it came out that though Josh had been raised Jewish, went to synagogue on the holidays and had attended Sunday school, his mother only converted after he was born and even then, through a Reform conversion. According to Jewish tradition he was not Jewish. “You have no problem,” The campus rabbi said, “get married with my blessings, though of course, I cannot do the service.”
Josh was shocked. But at least there were no obstacles to getting married. The rabbi still wondered why G-d had sent this couple to him and started asking Heather about her life. It did not take too long to find out that in fact, Heather’s mother had converted to Christianity, from Judaism! Since Judaism does not recognize that a person can convert out, it was Heather who was Jewish by birth. Now they were really confused. Taking Heather aside, the rabbi told her how much her Jewish soul was yearning to be Jewish and that was why she loved the Jewish bible so much. She owed it to herself to begin studying about Judaism. Heather agreed and loved it. Now it was Josh’s turn to make a decision. He also began to study and found that true Judaism really spoke to him. It took another year for him to decide to convert and soon after, they celebrated their wedding.
And that is how they came to Ascent. So different on the surface but so alike. Literally, a match made in Heaven.