A Chattan Needs a Shomer
This is why the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe instructed that, for several days before his wedding a Chattan should not walk around without a shomer (guard) for spiritual protection. (The widespread minhag is to only have a shomer after the wedding, during the sheva brachot.)
A Chattan Should Have Smicha
The Lubavitcher Rebbe connected this to the practice of the Chabad Rabbe’im – to get smicha (Rabbinic ordination) before one’s wedding. (Specifically, the Rebbe Maharash – the fourth Chabad Rebbe instructed his son, who would later become the fifth Rebbe – (the Rebbe Rashab) – to get smicha before his wedding. The Rebbe Rashab, in turn, instructed his son, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe – to get smicha before his wedding.) Just as Yitzchak spent time in a place of eternity (Gan Eden) before getting married and building his eternal house, so, too, one should connect to the deepest eternity of Torah before getting married. (Although the entire Torah is eternal, the halacha is the deepest will of G-d and is therefore considered the most eternal.)
May We Merit to Experience the Taste of Gan Eden in this World! Wishing you a Chodesh Tov and a Shabbat Shalom UMevorach!
Copyright 2025 by Rabbi Aryeh Citron
