Love as a Painkiller | Attorney Benny Don-Yahia
Attorney Benny Don-Yahia writes about love as a remedy for human pain, using a quote from Yehuda Amichai. He distinguishes between a healthy relationship, where partners support each other, and a codependent one, where one expects the other to heal past wounds. The article emphasizes the importance of presence and listening over trying to fix.
Attorney Benny Don-Yahia writes a personal column on the role of love as a painkiller in everyday life. He opens with a quote from Yehuda Amichai, "People use each other as a cure for their pain," interpreting it not as cynicism but as a description of a deep human need. The article distinguishes between relying on another person and using them: in a healthy relationship, a partner is a supportive shoulder; in a codependent one, they become a doctor, psychologist, and surrogate parent. Don-Yahia warns against the danger of expecting a partner to heal past wounds, and emphasizes the importance of presence and listening over trying to fix. He cites Jewish sources, such as Ecclesiastes and Pirkei Avot, and incorporates poems from his book "Love, First String." The central message: love does not eliminate pain, but ensures you do not have to bandage the wounds alone.