MARRIAGE - A STORY

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

There are many MARRIAGES in this weeks Sedra, starting off with the marriage of Yitzchak and Rivkah, the first Jewish marriage in our history.

In V25:20 it says Yitzchak was 40 years old when he married Rivkah, the daughter of Besuel haArami from Padam Aram..

Rashi questions why Torah repeats to us that Rivkah was the daughter of Besuel and the brother of Lavan, when we have been told this previously? Rashi answers that it was to EMPHASISE HER PRAISE, THAT SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF A WICKED MAN, THE SISTER OF A WICKED MAN, AND HER HOMETOWN WAS A PLACE OF EVIL PEOPLE, YET SHE DID NOT LEARN FROM THEIR EVIL DEEDS.

And so it was personally very interesting for us this week, to be part of a brand new engagement many centuries down the line, still holding fast onto these traditions and values handed to us by our Forefathers.

We hosted a very fine girl this week of Russian origin, and now living in Germany.

We don't know what happened to the father, but mother and daughter live alone, and both voluntarily decided to convert to Judaism.

And what a fine and sincere Jewess she is!

The purpose of her trip to Stamford Hill was to meet a boy in our community, Dovid, who also had a difficult background, and had been struggling with his Judaism. He had over the past few years made very strong moves to strengthen his Judaism

At this point I must give credit to the beautiful work that Shmuly does in our community, where him and a few others make farbregens (social gatherings) for the youth in our community, and they all have great times together.

Dovid was one of the boys who benefitted from these connections, and it was through this youth work that he became more committed to Judaism

And so after an intense week of meetings between the couple, they announced their engagement this week BH!

MAZAL TOV TO TWO SINCERE JEWS STARTING OUT THEIR LIFE WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION OF TORAH VALUES, HANDED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. - see photos attached.

AND, in this same week, one year down the line from another wedding in Shmuly's group of boys, was the BRIS of the son of one of these boys BH!

MAZAL TOV AGAIN! And yasher koach to Shmuly.

Wishing all those who have not yet taken the marriage step, to take courage, and take the plunge with Hashem's blessings.

Gut Shabbos to all with wishes for many more simchos!