I cried yesterday as I watched the live webcast of the wedding of Techiya Litman to Ariel Beigel in Jerusalem (see it here).
Their wedding was postponed after Palestinian terrorists murdered the bride’s father and brother less than two weeks ago. The bride’s father, Yaakov Litman, and 18-year-old brother Netanel were shot dead in a November 13th terrorist attack.
Techiya and Ariel were due to be married on November 16, just four days after the attack, but the celebration was postponed as the Litman family sat shiva (Jewish mourning period) for Yaakov and Netanel.
In an incredibly profound transformation of grief into joy, the bride invited the ‘entire Israel’ to her wedding. The public wedding invitation, which the couple posted on social media, begins with the biblical quote: “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy, for I have fallen but I have gotten up” (Micah 7:8).
The wedding was moved to the Jerusalem Convention Center where thousands joined the couple for the celebration, including wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Jewish communities from Melbourne, Australia, Ottawa, Canada and many in the USA sent representatives to attend the wedding in Jerusalem, in a beautiful display of Ahavat Yisroel.
CLICK FOR VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE WEDDING
Tomorrow in my sermon we will further expound on this incredible display of Jewish resilience.
Shabbat Shalom!