The Wedding

It was about 1:30 Monday afternoon. We had already dropped off the wedding gown to the place where Leah would dress. In the car were the boutonniers for the men, the flower crowns for the little girls, the bride’s bouquet, and the rose petals. We drove through the Judean Hills to the place where my youngest daughter would be transformed into a bride. When I returned to get her, she was radiant. Her face really was glowing. Her happiness was complete. The day had arrived. Just an hour or so earlier, her sister had called to tell her that despite having given birth to a little girl on Saturday, she would be able to attend the ceremony, on leave from the hospital.

My little bride and I left for the wedding hall, and everything that happened from that moment on was far beyond what we could have imagined. The room looked beautiful. In place of the tiny bud vases that they had agreed to supply with three roses, there were lovely flower arrangements on every table. The wedding planner had placed the candlesticks we brought on each table, had strewn rose petals, had taken care of every detail. The photographer took pictures of all of my beautiful grandchildren in their party clothes and fresh-scrubbed faces. The groom was waiting to begin with the tnaim and his mother and I broke the plate. All was ready.

I went to my daughter’s side. The men were bringing her groom to her. I will never forget the look on his face, the tears in my eyes, the tears running down the face of my older daughter, the happiness that filled the room. The groom left for the chuppah with his mother and we walked our daughter out into the Jerusalem night, stars gleaming, where, surrounded by love, they became husband and wife.

The joy burst into sparkle and fire as the groom’s friends, the jugglers, filled the hall with flying objects and mirth. The Dixieland Jazz band played its banjo and washboard as the jugglers performed. We danced with fans and leis and streamers.

Later, the groom sang to his Eishet Chayil, surprising us with his wonderful singing voice. Then the neices and nephews sang to their aunt and welcomed their new uncle to the family. As the wedding drew to a close, my husband and I and the groom’s mother were crowned with flowers for having married off our last child. Our grandchildren swept the floor with little brooms as was the custom for this song and our children danced around us. “It’s our baby daughter’s wedding.”

After the wedding, I took the young couple to the Kotel (Western Wall) where they went to pray. She was hugged by some of the few young women there who asked for her blessing, as a bride’s blessings are thought to be powerful.

I went home more than content. I was elated. They are full of happiness and carry a deep respect for each other. May G-d grant them a long healthy happy life together and bless them with children whose eyes will shine with the light of Torah.