The Tanakh is full of references to the relationship between God and the Jewish people as being modeled on that of a man and his wife. Granted, the comparison is a metaphor designed to help us understand a metaphysical concept. But given the centrality of that concept, there is a great deal hanging upon our understanding the vehicle of that metaphor. In fact, I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to suggest that the whole reason God created man, male and female, was for us to better understand our relationship with Him.  To read more at the Jewish Press, click here.