Oholei Torah Ballroom

Wedding Day

Wedding Schedule:

4:30PM: Kabalat PanimGreet the Bride and Groom &amp; traditional Badekin ceremony. 5:30PM: Chuppah Ceremony - Chabad World Headquarters, 770 Eastern ParkwayIn Chabad tradition, this takes place outdoors under the stars — rain or shine. Please dress accordingly. (Warm coat and shoes). Short tour of 770 Chabad World Headquarters at conclusion of Chuppah. Dinner and Dancing following Chuppah

Our Wedding

Our story began 30 days before we were conceived…

The Talmud teaches that 30 days before a person is conceived, a heavenly voice (bas kol) announces that this person will marry that person. What happened to free choice? Well, G-d takes a soul, divides it in half and sends it down into this world in two different bodies. The journey of our lives sets us on the path to find the person who holds the other half of our soul. It’s up to us to choose who we marry, G-d just helps us find our true ‘soulmate’.

How we met:

A lovely woman, who dedicates much of her life to introducing young couples (shadchan), reached out to our parents suggesting us as a potential match based on our personalities, priorities, values and the Jewish home we both were hoping to build. Our parents reached out to friends, co-workers and others to verify if indeed this was the kind of person we were looking for. When all lined up, we met, and after a month of dating, we decided we wanted to get married. How can you make such a momentous decision after only a month of getting to know someone? Well, it all depends on the kind of dating you do. The Jewish way of dating is about focused conversations, and lots of them. Doing some enjoyable activities, but mostly conversations to determine whether we enjoy each other’s company, share values and a vision for our future life. And after many long hours, we decided that this was in fact the person we wanted to build our life together with. We are so excited to begin our next chapter together, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating a ‘great joy for all of the Jewish people’, the joining of two halves of a soul and the building of a new ‘home among the people of Israel’ bayit neeman beyisrael, may it be an ‘everlasting edifice’, a binyan adei ad!

Devora and Mendel

Our Story

What to ExpectFor many of our guests, this may be your first Chassidic wedding. Some customs may be new, and we want you to feel comfortable and prepared. Chuppah Ceremony: The chuppah will take place outdoors under the open sky, inviting G-d’s blessings. It will take place rain or shine and is a five minute walk from the venue. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and bring coats to stay warm. Seating &amp; Dancing: In keeping with tradition, men and women will be seated and dance separately during the dinner and dancing portions of the evening. Attire: Modest attire is appreciated. Many women find dresses or skirts more comfortable for this setting. Atmosphere: Expect warmth, joy, music, and lively dancing — we can’t wait to celebrate with you! ______________________________________________ A traditional Jewish wedding is a tapestry woven from many threads—biblical, historical, mystical, cultural, and legal. These threads are carried from one generation to the next, forming a chain of Jewish continuity stretching back more than 3,800 years. On a cosmic level, our sages teach that every Jewish wedding reenacts the marriage between G-d and the Jewish people at Mount Sinai—and that the wedding day is a personal Yom Kippur, the holiest and most transformative day of one’s life. At the same time, marriage is also an intricate legal commitment. The rituals and traditions of the Jewish wedding flow from both its legal details and its deeper spiritual meaning—the body and soul of the chuppah. The Wedding DayKabalat Panim:It is customary for the bride and groom to host pre-nuptial receptions shortly before the chuppah ceremony. The bride hosts a women's reception in one room, and the groom hosts a reception for the men.The receptions are held separately due to the custom whereby bride and groom do not see each other for the week prior to the wedding. After the <a href="https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/476750/jewish/Tnaim-Engagement-Agreements.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tena’im </a>and <a href="https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/477336/jewish/The-KetubahMarriage-Contract.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ketubah </a>are signed, the atmosphere shifts from lively to reverent. A slow, stirring Chassidic melody fills the room as Mendel recites a ma’amar (Chassidic discourse) beginning with L’cha Dodi—a teaching about the beauty of the husband–wife relationship and the holiness of marriage. Originally delivered by the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1929 and later recited by the Rebbe himself, this discourse is both deeply personal and profoundly spiritual. Badeken (Veiling)Mendel is then escorted to Devora for the badeken, the traditional veiling of the bride. He is accompanied by the singing of the <a href="https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/music_cdo/aid/861419/jewish/Daled-Bavos.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daled Bavos</a>, one of the most sacred and emotional Chassidic melodies—its notes expressing yearning, holiness, and the merging of souls. The moment is filled with awe. Mendel gently covers Devora’s face with her veil, a gesture symbolizing that his love is not only for her outward beauty but for her essence, values, and soul. Beneath her veil (our custom is an opaque veil), Devora prays for their future home and for blessings for family, friends, and community.Parents and grandparents from both families then bless the bride with heartfelt prayers for the couple’s happiness and spiritual growth. The ChuppahGuests then proceed to the Chuppah, a canopy open on all sides, symbolizing the home Mendel and Devora will build—open, warm, and welcoming.Before the ceremony, the bride removes her jewelry, and the groom empties his pockets, loosens his tie, and unties his shoelaces. Their commitment is based not on possessions or appearances, but on who they are and what they share within.Both sets of parents walk with Mendel and Devora to the chuppah, held outdoors beneath the open sky—inviting G-d’s blessings from above. Under the canopy, Devora circles Mendel seven times, symbolizing protection, love, and devotion, as well as the seven days of creation and the completeness of their bond.The couple stands side by side, facing east toward Jerusalem, as the officiating rabbi recites two blessings over a cup of wine, thanking G-d for the gift of sacred union. Mendel and Devora each take a sip, symbolizing their shared journey through life’s sweetness and challenges. The Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings) are then recited by honored guests, expressing hopes for enduring love, harmony, and peace. At the close of the ceremony, Mendel breaks a glass—a poignant reminder that even in our deepest joy, we remember the brokenness of the world and our collective mission to bring healing and redemption. This moment also recalls the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, reminding us that even amidst celebration, we hold space for the sorrows of our people and the hope for renewal. Our sages teach that a wedding is also an act of rebuilding—two souls, once one, separated and now reunited, forming a new home that brings holiness and healing into the world. In this way, every Jewish marriage becomes a small step toward the rebuilding of Jerusalem itself. CelebrationFollowing the Chuppah, Mendel and Devora share a few private moments of yichud, their first as husband and wife, before joining everyone at the reception. Joining in a wedding feast and bringing joy to the bride and groom is considered a great mitzvah. The Talmud tells that even the greatest sages paused their learning to dance for a new couple. When Mendel and Devora enter the hall, they are greeted with singing, music, and exuberant dancing. In keeping with Chassidic tradition, men and women celebrate and are seated separately throughout the meal and dancing. The joy fills the room—songs, circles of dance, and laughter surrounding the couple with warmth and blessing. Every guest plays a role in this joy. A Jewish wedding joins not only two individuals but generations past and future—a link in an eternal chain of souls. In the week that follows, friends and family host nightly Sheva Brachos meals, where the Seven Blessings are recited again, extending the simcha through a full week of gratitude, joy, and celebration. May Mendel and Devora build a home filled with light, warmth, Torah, and love—and may all who join them share in that blessing. Learn more about Jewish wedding customs <a href="https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/476780/jewish/Guide-to-a-Jewish-Wedding.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE.</a>

Devora & Mendel

Devora & Mendel

Our Story

Our story began 30 days before we were conceived…

How we met:

Devora and Mendel