Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
In our daily morning prayers, we speak of important actions that we
should strive to do. They are honoring one’s parents, performing acts of
kindness, going to synagogue early, opening one’s home to guests, visiting the
sick, providing for the bride, escorting the dead, absorption in prayer,
bringing peace among people and studying Torah.
should strive to do. They are honoring one’s parents, performing acts of
kindness, going to synagogue early, opening one’s home to guests, visiting the
sick, providing for the bride, escorting the dead, absorption in prayer,
bringing peace among people and studying Torah.
Today, despite the negative stories of Israel upon which the outside
world continuously harps, this tiny country is a living testament to such kind acts. There
are an abundance of real and current examples of how this country is filled
with light and goodness like no other place on earth.
world continuously harps, this tiny country is a living testament to such kind acts. There
are an abundance of real and current examples of how this country is filled
with light and goodness like no other place on earth.
Last night, a special community in Tsfat ‘provided for the
bride’ in a most meaningful, giving way. Here is how it happened.
bride’ in a most meaningful, giving way. Here is how it happened.
One week ago, tourists from Holland were travelling around
Israel and decided to visit Tsfat. They stopped in at the Tree of Life Cafe, the
neighborhood health-food restaurant. The couple was with their two daughters,
who were 11 and 13.
Israel and decided to visit Tsfat. They stopped in at the Tree of Life Cafe, the
neighborhood health-food restaurant. The couple was with their two daughters,
who were 11 and 13.
They sat sipping refreshingly cool juice under an umbrella
and started chatting to Noam, a young 17-year-old waiter. Noam was dati, a religious
Jew, and he was curious. They happened to mention that they were not married, which
is not uncommon in Holland and in many other Western countries.
and started chatting to Noam, a young 17-year-old waiter. Noam was dati, a religious
Jew, and he was curious. They happened to mention that they were not married, which
is not uncommon in Holland and in many other Western countries.
The waiter was astounded. He looked at them and at their
beautiful daughters and asked, “Don’t you want to get married?”
beautiful daughters and asked, “Don’t you want to get married?”
The couple smiled and replied, “We never really thought about
it. Sure, we do.”
it. Sure, we do.”
“I’ll plan a wedding for you,” the young waiter shot back,
beaming.
beaming.
This was last Friday.
The waiter contacted a rabbi, then found a young couple who runs a
Carlebach service at a local shul. Then he called his friends who called their
friends. A young woman named Leah acted as the wedding coordinator. The date was set for the following Thursday night and the ceremony was
to be performed at the old Ari Sefardi synagogue.
The waiter contacted a rabbi, then found a young couple who runs a
Carlebach service at a local shul. Then he called his friends who called their
friends. A young woman named Leah acted as the wedding coordinator. The date was set for the following Thursday night and the ceremony was
to be performed at the old Ari Sefardi synagogue.
As the excitement mounted, the couple to be married invited
everyone they met to the ceremony. They bought dresses for their daughters and
waited for the anticipated day.
everyone they met to the ceremony. They bought dresses for their daughters and
waited for the anticipated day.
People in Tsfat, who had barely met this couple started
shopping and cooking. Young girls on school vacation (my daughter included)
decided to be waitresses and helped with all the food preparation. Professional photographer Jodi Sugar volunteered to take pictures and Meir Glaser, who performs in Carlebach-style concerts, was on hand with his guitar.
shopping and cooking. Young girls on school vacation (my daughter included)
decided to be waitresses and helped with all the food preparation. Professional photographer Jodi Sugar volunteered to take pictures and Meir Glaser, who performs in Carlebach-style concerts, was on hand with his guitar.
Finally Thursday arrived. The young waitresses, who were
wearing matching black skirts and crisp white blouses, complete with matching
jewelry specially bought for the occasion, helped set up. Their main job
seemed to be guarding the candy as small children, whose prime motive was to
fill their tiny palms with fistfuls of sugar, buzzed around like a swarm of
bees.
wearing matching black skirts and crisp white blouses, complete with matching
jewelry specially bought for the occasion, helped set up. Their main job
seemed to be guarding the candy as small children, whose prime motive was to
fill their tiny palms with fistfuls of sugar, buzzed around like a swarm of
bees.
“Wait for the chuppah,” they girls chided.
As the sun dipped behind Mount Meiron, blushing behind a
soft pink and orange veil, the Dutch family left for synagogue.
soft pink and orange veil, the Dutch family left for synagogue.
The food was ready, the chairs were set out and the guests
started to arrive. And as soon as the stars shone brightly above, the couple stood together in the stone
courtyard of the ancient synagogue. Four men, including the young waiter Noam, held
a tallis over their heads. A young boy softly played the flute while his father
strummed a guitar. Shlomo Carlebach, if
he could have been here, would have been touched. Everyone was smiling.
started to arrive. And as soon as the stars shone brightly above, the couple stood together in the stone
courtyard of the ancient synagogue. Four men, including the young waiter Noam, held
a tallis over their heads. A young boy softly played the flute while his father
strummed a guitar. Shlomo Carlebach, if
he could have been here, would have been touched. Everyone was smiling.
Stories of Torah sages, illustrating the importance of
giving and sharing in marriage, were shared. The bride slowly walked around the
groom seven times, their new friends recited the traditional sheva brachot and a
glass was smashed.
giving and sharing in marriage, were shared. The bride slowly walked around the
groom seven times, their new friends recited the traditional sheva brachot and a
glass was smashed.
“Mazal Tov,” everyone shouted and clapped. Guests erupted
into song and dance, colorful confetti and candies swirled through the air and,
on key, all the kids dove to the floor, mini submarines on a sweet-toothed mission.
into song and dance, colorful confetti and candies swirled through the air and,
on key, all the kids dove to the floor, mini submarines on a sweet-toothed mission.
Later in the evening, the chassan (groom) brought out
his violin and played classical music with love and devotion. With the moon, the stars and the sweet sounds of violin, he could have stepped out of a dreamy Chagall painting.
his violin and played classical music with love and devotion. With the moon, the stars and the sweet sounds of violin, he could have stepped out of a dreamy Chagall painting.
“This is the happiest day of my life,” the bride cried,
hugging her daughters close.
hugging her daughters close.
Everyone laughed and everyone cried. They danced and sang in true Tsfat style.
The wedding came about with spontaneity, and the speedy
preparations were done with love. The ceremony was meaningful, heartfelt and
filled with joy.
preparations were done with love. The ceremony was meaningful, heartfelt and
filled with joy.
‘Chasnasat Kallah,’ escorting the bride, is a mitzvah that
is alive and well in Tsfat.
is alive and well in Tsfat.
Discover more from Life in Israel
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Life in Israel 