“That’s true,” Just, A Guy confirmed, “most of us believe that the feeling of love, which is based on emotional, intellectual and physical attraction, is ignited the moment the ‘soulmate’ appears in our lives.”
“Yes, interesting,” Heart replied, “and isn’t it so?”
“Of course not,” he answered, “if it were so then, with the same ease and arbitrariness, the feeling of love could also disappear and fade away.”
Heart, who anticipated Yiftach’s questions in the cross-examination, made a preemptive strike. “But it is true, isn’t it, that sometimes intense love does fade away and die?”
“Not that easily,” Just, A Gal said, “not if you understand what, in my opinion, is the most important thing.”
“And what is that, my dear? What is the most important thing of all?”
“To understand that love is not a chance happening born of itself, but rather a conscious choice,” her voice was quiet, sensual, as if revealing a forbidden secret. “The feeling of lovedoesn’t just happen of itself, something is required to cause it to happen... and just as it can be created, it must also be maintained. Love is a full-time job.”
“And how can this feeling be maintained?” Heart asked her.
“Let me put it this way: you must focus on all that is good in a person.”
“Poo…” a deriding, scornful guffaw escaped Yiftach’s throat. Some people in the audience also started to giggle.
She didn’t seem hurt or surprised; obviously, she was used to such reactions. “By the way, by doing so, you yourself become a better person.”
Yiftach stood up and approached them. He seemed in a jolly, humorous mood. “My learned friend,” he turned to Heart, “may I cross-examine this exemplary couple that you called here today?” Heart put out his hands, gesturing that the witnesses were now at his disposal, and stepped back.
“My dears,” he addressed them stiffly, “with your permission, I would like to dwell on the thesis you present, stating that love is born from focusing on the good in another person. Have you ever heard… for instance… a woman in love saying to her partner with great longing: ‘My love, when I realized what a good man you are, I fell in love with you without hesitation?’ Or something to that effect?” Laughter spread throughout the room. “After which, have you ever heard her partner answering her with unbridled longing: ‘And I, my love, have never in my life met a woman of such high morality as yours!”
Just, A Gal quickly gathered her composure and answered, “I would like to tell you something, my learned friend. I wasn’t born here. I moved to Israel six years ago. My parents don’t live here; they remained in Paris. When I phoned my mother to tell her that I had given birth to my first child, my son, she was beside herself with joy. At the end of our talk she said, ‘Darling, I want you to know that your father and I love you and your sonunconditionally.’ Do you understand? I am here in Israel, my parents are in France, they never met my newborn son. I admit that I was a bit skeptical. I said to my mother that I am glad that she feels that way, but honestly, I don’t understand how you can love someone whom you have never met. ‘I love him because I choose to love him,’ she said, ‘love is a choice and a full-time job.’ Do you understand, my friend? By focusing on the good that is in people, you too will be able to ignite the flame of love in your heart.”
“We both know that it isn’t really practical.”
“It certainly is, absolutely so. Our actions have an immense impact on our feelings. For instance, perhaps you would like to be a more compassionate person, so a good start is to actually think compassionate thoughts. However, you will achieve your goal more quickly and more efficiently if you also add actions to your thoughts.”
“Such as?”
“Such as volunteering to work with youth at risk or in a women’s shelter or at a food bank. That will help you feel compassion. In the same way, the best way to feel love towards another person is to behave in a loving way, that is, to bestow, to give. Giving leads to love, and it is a never-ending cycle because more love leads to greater giving, and so on. That’s why I am certain that love leads towards a better, more rewarding, more compassionate world for all humanity, with greater mutual respect.”
Yiftach wanted to say something, but Judge Kedem interrupted him quickly. “I think everything is perfectly clear to us,” she told him. With that, the presentation of the case for the prosecution was concluded.
“My dad keeps nagging me to invite you over for dinner,” Yiftach said at the end of the court session.
“Really?”
“Yes, he is planning the dinner and wanted me to ask you what your favorite foods are. He wants to make a good impression. He’s very nervous about this.”
“Tell him he doesn’t have to worry. Whatever he prepares will be perfect.”
“That means you’ll come?”
“Of course. Why do you think he’s so nervous?”
“Because you will be the very first guest at our house since I returned home. Until now, it’s been just Dad, Chava and me at the house.”
“You know, I already met your dad, remember? When I came to your house that time with Weissman? But it was very short. Do you think he’ll like me?”
He squinted as he answered her without smart-alecky remarks, as she had asked of him then, as if she were simply ‘just a gal.’ “You know the answer.”
Chapter Twenty
“Because you have said: ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with the nether-world are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through,
