Rabbeinu Bechayeh in a hakdomah [introduction] to Parshas Tzav (6:2) writes: “The korban todah comes for miracles, and it is an expression of thanksgiving. If one is ill and he recovers he brings a korban todah ... or for other simchos such as a chosson and kallah, like it says, ‘the voice of sason and simcha etc.’ they should bring a korban todah in the House of Hashem.” We see from Rabbeinu Bechayeh a big chiddush, we see that a chosson and kallah are supposed to bring a korban todah. The question is, why do a chosson and kallah need to do so, surely there are only four groups of people that bring a korban todah, those who go down to sea, those who travel through desserts, those that are ill and recover, and one is who is let out of prison. A chosson and kallah are not one of the four groups, so why should they bring a korban todah?
The Likutei Yehudah (Parshas Tzav) cites the Imrei Emes who suggests an answer based on the Gemara in Sotah (2a). The Gemara teaches: קשה זיווגו של אדם כקריעת ים סוף – “Finding a shidduch for a person is as difficult as splitting the Yam Suf”. We see that getting married is likened to the splitting of the Yam Suf. One of the four groups of people that need to bring a korban todah are those who have been down to sea. Since the chosson and kallah have experienced a krias Yam Suf, it’s like they have gone down to the sea, therefore, they must bring a korban todah.
Perhaps we can suggest another answer based on a Rashi in Menachos (79b). The Gemara in Menachos (79b) teaches that there is something called a todas chovah [obligatory todah]. Rashi explains, there are four groups of people that are obligated to bring a todah, however, if a person wants, he may bring a todah on his own accord. Perhaps Rabbeinu Bechayeh is talking about this second type of todah.
R’ Shamai Gross shlita suggests, that Chazal say that when a chosson and kallah get married al taharas hakodesh [with the correct intentions], it is like they have built a Mikdosh me’at [mini Beis HaMikdosh], and the Gemara in Shavuos (15) teaches that: כשמוסיפין על העיר ועל העזרות מביאים שתי תודות – “When Beis Din add onto the city or onto the azorah they should bring two todah’s”. Consequently, when a chosson and kallah get married, and they “build” a Mikdosh me’at, they bring a korban todah.
The Madanay Asher suggests: The Zohar teaches that before one gets married, he is: פלג גופא – “half a body”, only when one gets married does he become complete. Consequently, someone who gets married and becomes complete, is likened to someone who was ill and recovered. Therefore, he brings a korban todah.
A second answer he suggests is, the poskim say that sometimes when one gets married he should say: ברוך דיין האמת, because:דמוצא אני מר ממות את האשה - if one marries a bad wife, it can be more bitter than death. If, however, one marries a good wife then we say the opposite and it’s an amazing thing. One who finds a good wife, has been saved from death, therefore, it is only fitting that he brings a korban todah.
