Love from the First Rhyme: A Delightful Gift Book

When I look at the back cover of the charming and cheerful book "Love in the First Rhyme," written by Benny Don-Yihya, I understand the spirit of the matter:

"FOR POSTS THAT CAPTURE
AND FOR SPICING MEETINGS

FOR MESSAGES OF UNDERSTANDING
AND FOR GIFT OPENS

FOR LOVE LETTERS
AND FOR STORMS OF THOUGHT"

This has already become a tradition between us. I meet Benny every once in a while, with a new book that has just been published in his hand, and I'm always curious what the theme will be this time. Will he deal with legal matters or Jewish tradition? With funny stories or children's literature? With sayings and proverbs or a literary novel?

Attorney Benny Don-Yihya, one of the leading family and inheritance law attorneys, has been an expert in these fields for over 40 years. When he steps onto the stage, the attorney turns into a sharp and funny stand-up comedian, and when he travels abroad or just disappears, it’s clear he’s working on literary writing. Now, I’m holding his 15th book (and it’s clear there’s more to come).

"This is my favorite book," says attorney Benny Don-Yihya about his 15th book, which was recently published by Kinneret-Zmora. "I invested a lot of effort in it, but with great enjoyment, to express my opinion on everything related to couplehood and family. The challenge: to condense the ideas into short, rhythmic verses." Don-Yihya explains that the book includes existing sayings and insights that he turned into rhymes, alongside many original rhymes of his own.

Why focus only on the theme of couplehood? Because it has been the author’s work for decades. "And also because the institution of couplehood is central to every person’s life," explains the attorney-author. "The subject opens the Torah: Adam and Eve, the first couple, who had every condition to continue living in paradise, and yet—immediately, a tempting snake, a forbidden apple, mutual accusations. The struggle of the sexes began then and will continue endlessly because it’s human nature." I must admit, he convinced me.

The book addresses 40 sections covering every aspect of the topic: love, happiness, truth and lies, marriage, children, family, peace at home and divorce, listening and quarrels, tips for better couplehood, revenge and compromises, money and compliments, and more. The witty rhymes are filled with wise insights and humor, and the author wants to emphasize that the book would not have come out as it is, without much help from poet Idit Gilor, who worked hard with him on writing the book.

"LOVE IN THE FIRST RHYME" is a delightful gift book, enjoyable, entertaining, and also provides insights, embellished with stunning images of couplehood.

I’m sharing some snippets from the book:

A LINE THAT COULD SHORTEN THE STORY:
“MY SPOUSE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.”

THE ACCUSATIONS ONLY FIX A SPOUSE:
YOUR SIDE IN OUR SHIP IS SINKING.

A MOTIVATING ADAGE TO DEAL WITH CRISES:
“IN MARRIAGE THERE ARE NO FAULTS - THERE ARE CHALLENGES.”

COUPLES WHO THINK ABOUT THEIR PAST
DESERVE TO BE TITLED:
A PAIR OF PAST-THINKERS.

Kinneret-Zmora - Publishing House. 96 pages, hardcover, 74 NIS

(Photo: Shosh Lehab; courtesy of the author)

(Translated by AI)