Bashert

Finding the partner you were fated to find.

My daughter Rebecca Ross recently married Shir Tirosh. Several months before their big day, the girls contacted an organization called Havaya: Israeli Life-Cycle Ceremonies. Havaya (which means “existence” or “experience”) allows secular Israelis to suffuse their life-cycle ceremonies with Jewish tradition. The girls met several times with Mr. David Haim Saidov III of Havaya to learn about Judaism’s traditional teachings on marriage, and together they crafted a wedding ceremony that was meaningful for them.
  David conducted the ceremony. Both he and in turn Rebecca referred to Israel’s ongoing war, with Rebecca later saying: “What is here tonight is not only something personal but it is another small victory for our crazy people. Of course, we wish for better and saner days, and for everyone, really everyone, to return home safely.”
  Before they exchanged rings, Shir and Rebecca spoke about their love for each other. Shir spoke first, saying (in part): “From the moment we started spending time together, I realized that I want to be in your company always, and somehow I couldn’t see my life without you. You make me laugh until my stomach hurts; you move me every day anew with the notes you leave me in the morning, and with the hot meals waiting for me when I return after a busy day. You are my comfort in life, my light, the strength that fills me and strengthens me every day. Our life is a crazy journey, a journey full of exciting adventures, where every day is a new chapter in our shared story. This is a journey where together we will create memories and turn every moment into an unforgettable experience. My heart is happy that I get to live by your side; you are my other half, and I just can’t believe that out of all the people in the world you chose me.”
  Shir then presented Rebecca with a ring and said to her: “You are sacred to me, with this ring, to be my life partner, to live a life of friendship, trust, joy, and love.”
  Now it was Rebecca’s turn. Before giving Shir a ring and reciting the identical sanctifying declaration, Rebecca said (in part): “Just like in the movies, we fell in love to the depths of our souls. I wish every person on our planet to feel and experience the magical and unforgettable moments of the beginning, the butterflies in the stomach, and the knowledge that this is it, that I found the one my soul loved. I knew it would pay off for me to wait and not compromise on what was always most important to me: the inner feeling of love and connection. I always really wished for true love, like everyone else. I always imagined what it would look like, and I believed that I would find it too. But I didn’t really think that I would deserve something so crazy, something that you feel in your heartbeat, something big and powerful, with meaning and real depth. I am excited to get up with you every morning, to fulfill together with you all the dreams we have and will have.”
  The wedding ceremony ended with the traditional “Seven Blessings,” using almost all of the traditional wording. And there was a lovely solution for how to end the sixth and seventh blessings, which each (traditionally) blesses G-d “who makes the groom and bride happy.” Here is how the sixth blessing was formulated: “Grant abundant joy to these loving friends, as You caused your creatures to delight in the Garden of Eden of old. Blessed are you G-d who makes brides happy together.”
  Yiddish has a wonderful word, bashert, for the person who is your destiny, who completes you, who is your other half, the person you are meant to be with if you are to lead a happy, rich, meaningful life. Listening to Shir and Rebecca speak of their love for one another, it was clear that each had found the person they were fated to find. Mazal Tov! 

Teddy Weinberger is a contributing writer to Jlife magazine. He made aliyah with his family in 1997 from Miami, where he was an assistant professor of religious studies. Teddy and his wife, Sarah Jane Ross, have five children.

 

 

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

serdivan escort adapazarı escort odunpazarı escort