Q&A: Everlasting Love or Great Love
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Everlasting Love or Great Love
Question
Hello Rabbi,
why is there a dispute in the Talmud over whether to say “Everlasting Love” or “Great Love”? Why does it matter? The blessing seems to me to have the same meaning either way.
Answer
I don’t know. Literally, there is a difference. “Everlasting Love” can mean a small love but one that lasts forever, whereas “Great Love” is an intense love, but not necessarily forever.
You can see, for example, here: https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%A6%D7%93%D7%A7%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%93%D7%99%D7%A7/%D7%A8
and here: https://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/7259