By Ram Donnell
If I had told myself 5 years ago that one day I would dance in circles of men at a Chabad wedding to the sounds of Chassidic songs, I would have said that I had completely lost my mind and there was no way it would happen.
I met the kallah’s father, Rabbi Shneur Kurtz, the rabbi of the Chabad community in Metar, 9 years ago when I became interested in the mitzvah of laying tefillin. As a kibbutznik, Jewish religious laws and commandments were distant from me, but somehow, I found myself entering the Chabad House in Metar, where I met the rabbi. He was a charming and warm person who received a great gift: the amazing ability to bring the hearts of people closer.
A little over 6 years after my father passed away, Rabbi Shneur taught me the mitzvah of saying Kaddish, and from there, the connection to the Chabad community was natural and strong. So, on weekends and holidays, I go to the synagogue to fill myself with the holy joy that fills my heart in honor of Shabbat.
Yesterday’s (Butman-Kurtz) wedding was very special with unique Chabad customs. The young and charming couple, who apparently fasted on their wedding day as part of the preparation for the sacred day, were very excited. Immediately after the chuppah, we separated into two halls (men/women) for a few hours, forgetting that there were also women at the wedding.
After the meal fit for a king, the wedding singer brought in the groom (without his wife), and great joy filled the dance floor with the sounds of Chassidic melodies.
And there I was, a former kibbutznik, finding myself integrated into circles of dancing, holding hands with others wearing black and white, and I felt completely part of the celebration. Externally, we looked different, but internally, we all shared a great and common joy.
People from different backgrounds wished me “Mazal Tov,” a custom that wishes good luck to everyone regardless of family connections. There was a great shared joy that temporarily overshadowed national mourning and scars of reality.
Our enemies, the murderers, did not distinguish between religious, haredi, or secular when they attacked us. Even the soldiers of the IDF and security services fought side by side from all segments of the beautiful Israeli population.
In these challenging days in our buzzing country, it’s advisable to find connection and closeness and avoid deepening the rift and baseless hatred (we’ve had enough of that). It’s time for unconditional love because that’s the only way we’ll emerge victorious. May we experience beautiful and joyful days.
Beautiful.
AMEN! Beautiful, B’H!