From the desk of Rabbi Yosef Sanders:
Mazeltov Bride and Groom!
This week, we celebrated the wedding of Pesach and Chaya Levine, and the following is excerpted from remarks at their Chupa. This essay is dedicated in their honour. Mazeltov, and may you live happily together until 120!
Revered Parents and Grandparents, Beloved siblings, Treasured Family of the Bride and Groom, and Honoured Guests,
As we approach this precious and sacred moment, of Chatan and Kallah uniting in Holiness, I would like to address the Bride and Groom.
Dear Bride and Groom, Choson and Kallah,
This is, indeed, an intensely precious and romantic moment, where you, Choson and Kallah, having drawn from the nurturing of your dear parents and family, who have given endlessly of themselves to bring you to this day - You now join your personalities together in eternal love, creating a unique synthesis of sterling character, the foundation of your home for all generations. A precious moment indeed.
Why do we say this moment is sacred as well?
Actually, the Holiness of the moment is not aside from the romance, but BECAUSE of the romance. Our Sages teach, "When there is Shalom between a couple, the Divine Presence rests upon them."
Your union in love - the ultimate expression of Shalom - thus creates new emanations of GD's presence in our world. This special moment, the inauguration of a loving Jewish home on our planet, is therefore celebrated in Heaven, by the very Angels, accompanied by Celestial orchestras, in magnificent symphony. It is, quite literally, a celebration escorting Heaven onto Earth!
Down here, at the wedding, we will try to reproduce this hallowed musical performance. We all know, however, that eventually, the music stops, and the band goes home. But how long do the angels play? When do they call it a night, and take time to restore and refresh?
And the answer, dear Choson and Kala, is: So long as there is Shalom between you, the Heavenly music goes on!
For this is not merely a one - time event, upon your initial binding. It is a life-long reality: the more Shalom you, Bride and Groom share, the greater the Shechina, the greater the Holiness in your home.
And should there ever be a time when peace seems distant, and an unraveling is at hand, if at that critical juncture, you can withstand the inclination, you have sent forth not merely rainshowers, but rivers and torrents of Shechina, of blessing, into your home.
At this time I would like to invite the entire wedding entourage, all of us assembled here today, to take part in the holiness of this special moment.
Tradition teaches that, for the bride and groom, this day is akin to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the Day, literally, of cleansing, and therefore they fast on this day, and are forgiven for their sins.
But the Talmud advises that even Yom Kippur can only atone for failings between man and GD. For sins against our fellow man, we must obtain a release from the individual we have slighted.
So I would ask all the assembled to offer the ultimate gift to this precious couple - the gift of a complete forgiveness, from each one of us, from the furthest depths of the very, very bottom of our hearts.
And to make this Chupa, this ceremony, even more wholesome, I would further like to ask everyone present to create concentric circles of Shalom, and to reach deep inside ourselves, and to release any and all grievances we may have against each other. We must recognize that every soul is precious, and, while misunderstandings certainly occur, are likely without malicious intent. On this basis, and upon reflecting on the treasure that each person truly is, let us offer the bride and groom the ultimate wedding gift, the gift of a tapestry woven of Shalom and of love, coursing through this serene corner of the universe, and spreading a majestic canopy of goodness, of Godliness, and of Grace, upon the union of this cherished couple.
And let us say, Amen!
