By COLlive reporter
Mendel Konikov of Southampton, NY and Estee Pinson Carroll Gardens, NY, got recently married and celebrated with only their family members present as per social distancing requirements because of Covid-19.
With many of their community members unable to attend, a special memento was prepared as a way of participation in the simcha that would extend the joy way beyond the wedding night.
The kallah’s parents Rabbi DovBer Pinson and his wife Rochie decided to publish “The Jewish Wedding: A Guide to the Rituals and Traditions of the Wedding Ceremony” to share with their community and with the general public.
Written by Rabbi Pinson and beautifully designed by his wife, the book is culled from the teachings of Halacha and Chassidus, with quotes from all the Rabbei’im, seeks to explore and explain the more Penimiyus understanding of the laws, customs and practices during the wedding.
Here is what they wrote to their community:
Dear Guests,
With tremendous gratitude to Hashem and hearts filled to the brim with joy, we welcome you to participate in this great life-altering occasion.
The day of a person’s wedding is the most auspicious and significant day of that person’s life and it is our honor to share this day with all of you gathered with us today.
In Judaism, marriage is not simply viewed as the joining of two people with similar interests, attractions and shared life goals. It is seen as the joining of souls, and a shared life tikkun/or purpose. “It is not good for man to be alone” these words were spoken at the very beginning of the human existence. Existentially, we are meant to go through life with a partner.This makes our life more large, meaningful and beyond our egoistic needs and desires.
On a spiritual realm, there are souls that are meant to be together, and through the process of dating and self-discovery one finds that person who is predestined to be their partner in life.
“There is no joy like the resolution of doubt,” and the finding of one’s “soul mate”, is the rediscovery of a part of one’s self that has been missing until now. This is part of the tremendous joy that we celebrate on the wedding day.
The blessing we offer to a bride and groom is to build a”Bayit ne’emean b’yisrael/To build an everlasting edifice in the house of Israel.” This home that is being built by the new couple is one in a long chain of loving marriages and homes that have made up the unbroken chain of our ancestry and G-d willing, future generations. For this reason, it is said that previous generations of ancestors join in spirit under the Chuppah, because this union is so much larger than just the two souls who have found each other. This union solidifies and continues the chain of Jewish life, and is the greatest Nachat/spiritual pleasure that the souls Above can experience.
As the epicenter of Jewish life and continuity for millennia, there are myriads of rituals, customs and traditions interwoven into the wedding ceremony and celebration. We hope this guide will introduce you to some of the lesser known and enlighten you further to those you may already be aware of. Ancient and modern, these deeply meaningful and beautiful rituals are meant to open us up to an awareness of the magnitude of the moment.
Our sincere hope is that this guide will encourage you to be more than a spectator at this wedding. You and all our guests are active participants celebrating with us together in a most profound and meaningful manner, opening ourselves up to the experience of wonder and joy and that this occasion elicits.
Enjoy, and Mazal Tov.
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The book is available on Amazon as in paperback and kindle versions. It is also available for bulk at cost price at gmachlist@gmail.com
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