Last week, on Wednesday night the 29th of Sivan 5761, thousands of Shmais.com fans and subscribers logged on to Shmais.com, to watch a historic live webcast of the wedding of the CEO to Miriam Weiszner in Cleveland, OH. The webcast was made possible thanks to the hard work and effort of the Chosons close friend Moshe Berghoff.
In addition to the thousands who logged on to watch the wedding, nearly 400 family members and friends including many Bochurim from around the world including Australia, South Africa, Israel, Canada, Florida, California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and of course Ohio gathered to participate in the great wedding celebration.
At the Kabolas Ponim, Rabbi Aron Leib Raskin a Shliach in Brooklyn Heights, NY and a cousin of the Choson read the Tenoim. The Aydim for the Tenoim were Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin of Lubavitch News Service & Dr. Yitzchok Yisroel Eleff. During the Kabolas Ponim the Choson received word that it was pouring rain outside. The Choson immediately took a cell phone and phoned Rabbi Abba Refson at the Ohel asking him to request a Brocha from the Rebbe that the rain stop. A few minutes later the rain stopped! After the Kabolas Ponim, the Choson, with tears streaming down his face was escorted to the Badekening of the Kalla.
The Choson came out to Chuppa @ 7:06pm, and immediately took out a few pieces of paper with the names of hundreds of people who had requested that he have them in mind under the Chuppa. At this holy moment the Choson was privileged to be wearing the Rebbe's Kapota, shirt & Yarmulkah. The Kalla came out @ 7:12pm. During the entire Chuppa, the usually jubilant Choson, was understandably very serious and at times was seen crying a lot.
CHUPPA
* The M.C. was Rabbi Lipa Brennan a close friend of the Kallas family.
* Rabbi Shloma Leib Abramowitz - world renowned Chazzan and an uncle of the Choson sang the Mee Adir.
* Rabbi Binyomin Klein - Mazkir of the Rebbe read the Rebbe's letter.
* Rabbi Leibel Alevsky - Head Shliach of Greater Cleveland, OH translated the Rebbe's letter.
* Rabbi Yaakov & Avrohom Noson Roth were honored with Birchas Kohanim.
* A portion of a yechidus for Chassanim & Kallas from the Rebbe - 5752 was played.
* Rabbi S.Z. Kazen - Senior Rabbi & Shliach in Cleveland was Mesader Kiddushin.
* Aday Kiddushin were Rabbi Benjy Stock - Administrator of Bais Rivkah & Rabbi Pinny Andrusier Shliach in Cooper City, FL.
* Rabbi Sholom Ber Chaikin - Rov of the Lubavitch Community In Cleveland read the Kesuba.
*The Aydim on the Kesuba were Rabbi Mordechai Friedman - S.Paul, MN a close friend of the Choson & Rabbi Lipa Brennan.
BROCHOS
1&2 - R' Moshe Weiszner - Zaidy of the Kalla.
3 - Rabbi Yossi Hecht - Shliach in Sandton, South Africa and an uncle of the Choson.
4 - Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Hodakov - Shliach in New Haven, CT and the Chosons brother.
5 - Rabbi Dessler - Dean of Hebrew Academy & Yavne Day School Cleveland, OH
6 - Rabbi Michel Kramer an uncle of the Choson.
7 - Rabbi Sholom Ber Hecht - Chairman Executive Committee N.C.F.J.E. and an uncle of the Choson.
At 7:41pm the Choson literally smashed the glass cup into smithereens with his right foot. Immediately thereafter a round of fireworks were set off from the roof of the Shul by the Kallas brother Mendy Weiszner. The real fireworks reminded every one of the firework display that was on Shmais.com on the day that Levi & Miriam became engaged.
At lerech 9:20pm the Choson & Kalla entered the hall. They were greeted with much simcha by the hundreds of guests. The Shir HaShirim band imported from Brooklyn, NY and led by Avigdor Zeitlin began rocking and the Choson was hoisted unto the shoulders of Ely Rosenfeld. Immediatley circles of guests danced in a big time fashion around the Choson & on the womens side around the Kalla.
In contrast to his serious mood under the Chuppa, from the moment the Choson walked in until the end of the wedding his face beamed with joy and he was constantly encouraging the singing and dancing many times jumping up unto a chair and swinging his hands wildly. Of course, the guests who wanted to fulfill what it says "Kul HaMesamayach Choson VeKalla Zoicheh LaChamisha Kolos" responded in kind and the end result was as Lebedik a wedding that you'll ever see.
After the first dance everyone sat down to enjoy the main course meal. There were a couple of speeches during the meal including ones from Rabbis' Shea Hecht, Yosef Yitzchok Hodakov and the Kallas father. Levi Hecht served as the M.C.
The main course was followed with another round of lebedike dancing. There was lots of excitement during the second round of dancing including guests who balanced a newspaper cone on fire on his nose, a guest who balanced a ladder on his teeth, cartwheels, "Kulehs" and many special dances. However, the highlight during the second round of dancing was the appearance, on stage, of the Chosons brother Yosef Yitzchok who sang a few songs including Sholom Aleichem... mir trinkt Mashke sending the crowd into a frenzy.
After an exhilarating round of dancing everyone sat down to enjoy the Neapolitan ice cream roll cake for dessert, which was followed by Sheva Brochos.
Another round of lebedike dancing followed Sheva Brochos.
During the meal a beautiful, amazing, limited edition Teshura, with the title "Ateres Zekaynim" and containing many Pirsum Rishon, Kisvei Yad, Pictures, Telegrams, Letters and more was distributed on the mens side. The Teshura that was compiled by Rabbis Eliezer Zaklikofsky & Yirmiya Berkowitz, was over 80 pages big and contained 9 separate chapters.
Chapter 1: The Rebbe's Teshura.
Chapter 2: 3 Original handwritten correspondence in 1937 from the Rebbe to the Chosons Zaidy Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov OBM, about a booklet in German entitled "The teachings of Chassidus Chabad".
Chapter 3: Rabbi Hodakovs wedding in Riga in Adar 1939. Including a letter from the Friediker Rebbe, notes from a Yechidus with the Friediker Rebbe and articles in the Riga Jewish newspaper.
Chapter 4: "Shmuesin - Talks and Tales". Notes from Rabbi Hodakov on the founding of Shmuesin, and the Rebbe's handwritten corrections on the 2nd edition that was written by Rabbi Hodakov.
Chapter 5: Bais Rivkah. Notes from Rabbi Hodakov concerning the founding of Bais Rivkah by the Friediker Rebbe, and the appointment of Our Rebbe to "President" of the board of education.
Chapter 6: Notes from Rabbi Hodakov on wedding issues.
Chapter 7: Notes from Rabbi Hodakov on other subjects.
Chapter 8: Pirsum Rishon pictures of the Rebbe from 1962 and 1964.
Chapter 9: Pirsum Rishon letters and telegrams to the Chosons Zaidy Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Hecht OBM.
How appropriate that at the wedding of the CEO of Shmais.com & Shmais News Service, in addition to the beautiful Teshura and benchers, custom made mouse pads with the Shmais logo and motto "Keeping Lubavitchers Informed" and a small poem imprinted were also given out. In fact, there were actually two separate mouse pads made for the occasion with the second one being made by the Chosons Uncle and inspiration for the name Shmais, Mendel Duchman of Los Angeles, CA. Uncle Mendel also made custom made hats & T-shirts with SHMAIS.com imprinted on them.
B"H it was an amazing wedding, a grand time was had by all and it will surely be remembered for a longtime.
SNS ED. My Kalla & I would like to take this opportunity to thank the thousands of you who participated in our wedding via the live webcast and especially the hundreds of you who joined us in Cleveland. May we merit to share many Simchos together.
