Image by iStock

Questions and curiosity form the basis of Judaism. And, as we’ve discovered through our research on couples, the foundation of lasting romantic relationships.

Jewish families around the world will gather around their table this week to celebrate Passover. At these seders the youngest attendees will sing Four Questions. These are a series of questions that begin with: Mah nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot? How is this night different from all other nights?

Of all the ways to recount the tale of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt, Judaism chooses this question-answer approach. The ritual cannot be performed without these questions. Even if a seder is attended by two rabbinic scholars, the younger one must ask the Four Questions.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Why? Because questions encourage participation, reflection, and conversation. Children ask these questions to understand their history. And in answering, we remind ourselves of our own story.

Edgar Bronfman tells us, “To be Jewish is to ask questions.” From the Four Questions to the talmudic tradition of unresolved questions, Judaism encourages us to ask questions and challenges us to think deeply.

Yael Splansky, Senior Rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, explains, “The Talmud records multiple answers to a single question of Jewish law. At the end of the debate there usually comes a clear ruling, but the minority opinions are given an honoured place alongside the majority view. This discipline of considering every perspective and angle cultivates curiosity and delight in questioning. Every question brings us closer to understanding.”

In fact, it’s when we stop asking questions—and reveal our apathy—that there’s cause for concern.

Rabbi Splansky continues, “What is the essential path to discovering love, art, faith, and life itself? A path paved with good questions.”

Through our research into couples and lasting partnerships, we’ve found the same holds true for romantic relationships. Open-ended questions — those requiring more than a “yes” or “no” answers —are the key to fostering deeper connections in our everyday lives.

The happiest couples have a foundation of friendship. And friendship begins by asking deep questions, an expression of care and interest.

Unearthing your partner’s greatest fear and happiest memories can only happen by asking profound, probing questions. These contributions deepen both new relationships where two people are getting to know each other, and solidify decades old relationships by allowing partners to discover new ideas about each other.

Researchers at the Sloan Center at UCLA studied 30 heterosexual couples with young children in dual-income households. They found the couples only spent about 35 minutes a week together in conversation, mostly discussing items on a to-do list—who’s going to do what when.

“Did you pay the electric bill?” is not an open-ended question. Instead, focus on questions that make the listener feel valued and require them to think critically and reflect. This creates a more vulnerable and intimate conversation, with room for deeper connection. These questions engage one of the most basic positive human emotion: interest.

We have a tradition in our marriage that we call our “annual honeymoon.” This will be our 19th year renting the same room at our favorite bed and breakfast. We spend two weeks answering our version of the Four Questions:

How was your year?

What did you like about it?

What did you not like about it?

What do you want your next year to be like?

Those questions lead to more questions, and we spend our trip discussing ways to improve for the following year.

This weekend, whether you’re celebrating Passover, Easter, or simply a respite from work, try your own version of the Four Questions.

Logan Ury is a 2018 TED Resident who’s applying insights from behavioral science to help people find and nurture more meaningful romantic relationships.

Dr. John Gottman is a researcher and clinical psychologist renowned for his work on marital stability and divorce prediction.

Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman is a clinical psychologist, and the co-founder and President of The Gottman Institute.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount