Photos and Story shared by: Photographer Alex Gorokhov
www.glattphotography.com
A wedding which took place last Sunday at a Jewish Center in Manhattan Beach, New York, may have seemed like an ordinary wedding, but in truth was anything but that.
Marina Leykina and Alex Braverman, both born in the former Soviet Union, previously had no involvement with their Jewish background.
Like many other Russians, Alex and Marina both emigrated to the United States; Marina living in Staten Island, and Alex settling in New Jersey.
A few years after moving to Staten Island, Marina got involved with a local Jewish-Russian Learning Center, run by Rabbi Eli Kogan.
Rabbi Kogan, who gives classes in Torah and Chassidus for Russian speaking Jews, is also a radio host and editor for the magazine “The Fifth Dimension.”
After meeting Rabbi Kogan, Marina became more involved with Judaism, and as time went on she became a fully observant Jew.
Meanwhile, Alex Braverman, living in New Jersey, traveled to Israel to study in the Mayanot Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He later attended Bris Avrohom, led by Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky and Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, for a number of years.
In February of 2011, a Shabbaton for Russian speaking Jews was organized jointly by the Chama Organization, the Lubavitch Youth Organization, and Bris Avrohom. Attending that Shabbaton were many Russian speaking Rabbis, including Rabbi Kanelsky of New Jersey and Rabbi Kogan of Staten Island.
In attendance as well were more than 700 people, who enjoyed lectures, speakers, meals and a concert by Avraham Fried.
It was during this warm and inspiring Shabbaton, which created such unity among fellow Jews, that Marina Leykina met Alex Braverman. The couple were married this week at the Jewish Center in Manhattan Beach.
The Chupah – wedding ceremony, which began with the Alter Rebbe’s niggun according to Chabad custom, was led by Rabbi Kanelsky.
Music was provided by the Rambam Orchestra, and the wedding was a scene of great joy and happiness among the friends and family of the chosson and kallah.
Hopefully, Marina and Alex’s story will become an inspiration to many other young men and women who will attend this year’s upcoming Shabbaton for Russian speaking Jews, to take place February 17, 2012 in Connecticut.
Mazel tov! It is our hope that MANY Russian Jewish girls and boys will meet their soulmates ,BH soon and in a good time. All parents want is to see their kinderlach in love with a good partner for life!
Blessings!!!
The whole shabbaton just paid off at this wedding. Do more such things! One of the best stories I read here on ColLive!
Rabbi Levi Block, from Union County Torah Center played a key role sending Alex Braverman to Maayanot.
Alex Braverman was sent to maayanot by Rabbi Lepkivker and Rabbi Kanelsky who were involved with the family from the time they came from the Soviet Union. the Bris of the Father & son Braverman as well as the Chupa for The senior Braverman’s was done by Bris Avrohom.
The one who actually introduced Alex to Marina and made the shiduch was Rabbi Lepkivker. This happened after the Shabbaton. thats what Alex & Marina told me at the Weding.
May everyone be so lucky to have simchas now with moshiach now long long long overdue
Counting down the days till I meet the amazing Rabbis, and staff who work very hard to make this event happen.
The bochurim were Chaverim of the Choson from Mayanot. Mayonot continues to put out wholesome Chassidishe young men and women. The old established Yeshivas should learn from them how to run a successful yeshiva. It is the most sought after shlichus for serious bochurim!
the work you do is just amazaing
may you go from strength to stregnth in all the rebbes work that you do
You should have a LOT of Naches from this beautiful couple –
Your children. They look awesome!
Wonderful couple, wonderful wedding, wonderful photos and amazing story. Thanks COL for sharing with us.
Rabbi of Mayanot!!! Best best Kasriel Shemtov!!I love you!!
to the young couple and their respective families. A beautiful wedding in every way.
It was amaizing filling when Russian Couple walking to the Chuppa
with Arba Bovos – Alter Rebbe Wedding Nigun. Usualy in situation like this Parents of Young generation following a kids steps. Beside that lot of Russian guests on the hasseneh have taisted great experiance and inspiration of real Jewish Wedding. MAZAL TOV ALEX and MARINA!!!!
Thanks fof comments.
The singles program was led by Rabbi Chaim and Rivkah Brikman -Directors of Chabad in Seagate . They did an amazing work with them
Rebbetzin Sarrah Mendelson led the program for singels. And other Rabbis also
SIMON TOV UMAZAL TOV!
Great story
great couple
may we have many more
Moshiach NOW!
I will have to agree on that one.
So much dancing! LOVE IT!
Photos are AWESOME! I feel like as if the photographer brought them to life!
Alex is awesome!
yes, it was a special program for singles led by some rabbi, I’m not sure who was involved.
This photographer is truly amazing. I feel almost like I am at the Wedding when I look at the pictures.
Love it. Like your sence of humor.
go Benzion laskin. You are the best.
Rabbi Laskins involvment in the shabbaton is incredible.
Kol Hakavod
My brocha to Bentzion is that he should find a good and right Shidduch for himself.
He’s a key person at the Shabbaton, hes the one who organized all of the ama
zing programs, concerts, and lectures
.
My point was not that a shadchan wasn’t involved I was just saying that that the nature of the event (as it appears) was that people had an opportunity to meet in person without first having to wait for someone to help them find someone. I see that I’m not the only one that thinks this way.
Wow, these photos look amazing!
Really captured the simcha.
Alex, great job on the Photojournalism.
I was at the Shabbaton, and I remember seeing you take pictures and following some of your work since then.
Kol Hakavod to Brit Avraham Orginization, and Rabbi Eli Kogan of Staten Island.
And also kol Hakavod to Chamah For putting together such an amazing shabbaton.
And what an amazing story!
Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov to Alex and Marina!
Number 4 is absolutely right!
can we have a vote on COL to see how many feel the same way, please?? All who agree please send in your votes;
Maybe many more shidduchim may finally happen this way. . . all kosher and above board .
Please start voting now . . ..
Yehuda, you are just that amazing guy!!
Keep up the great work.
Where’s your tie??
shtotakoye!
MAZAL TOV !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
New Russian Jewish home based on Torah and Mitzvois !!!!
AMAIZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who told You that Shadchan wasn’t involve here ?
in the 6th picture up from the bottom?
morristown 4 0 6
Absolutely amazing wedding.
CHAMAH, Briss Avrohom, Rabbi Eli Kogan – You are the Best!!
Great job all of You .
Alex, special thanks for reportage. Your photos are stunning.
We attended at the shabbaton and it was unique experience.WE are coming this year with our community to the National Russian Jewish Shabbaton at stamford plaza hotel CT February 17-19. Bring all your mekurovim .
The Bochrim at this wedding??????????
I love the cake
You are so right on! We need more kosher ways for young people to meet.
Any ideas anyone?
AMAZING BOCHUR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kudos to young people from the former Soviet Union who are able to get past atheistic indoctrination and see the truth and beauty of Yiddishkeit. These pictures of a wedding k’das Moshe v’Yisroel warm the heart. May the couple be blessed with chayim ne’eemeem u’me’oosharim bgashmius v’ruchnius.
stuuuning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mazel Tov! So happy for you. May you have a wonderful life together filled with only good health and happiness.
Whaaaat? they MET at a shabbaton? on their own? with no shadchan?
Who made sure that the great grandma used cloth tablecloths on shabbos? Who checked if he says chitas enough or how long her sleeves are?
My point is, that just because you were born in CH should not mean that you shouldn’t have chances like this to meet someone. We need to make more of these events for all our singles out there.
Anyway, Mazal tov to this couple and may there be many more.
It was heartwarming to hear of such a beautiful simcha. It looked like a beautiful wedding. The couple looked so happy and the guests looked like they were having such a wonderful time. Wishing only simchos to the chosan and kallah and that the simchos continue for everyone who needs this brocha.
many many more simchos in lubavitch amen
Im Yirtzah HaShem we need more simchas like this! MAZAL TOV