The Wedding of Noa and Eidan

Come and gather round me friends, and I'll tell you a story of how I dragged myself to a wedding last night; almost didn't go; cause I was so brought down by what has been happening in recent days and weeks… why just yesterday, we had a terror attack in B'er Sheva, that fine desert city where Abraham our forefather lived many years ago, and which is now a bustling city combining the technological advantages of this modern age with the life style and the easy going open hearted attitude of desert dwellers. Some crazed ninja turtle who had been mis-educated to believe that by carrying some 20 pounds of explosives and nails on his body, and sneaking into the middle of a hospital, blowing himself up, would make this world a better place, was caught just in time, at the central bus station, on his way to do the evil deed, and though he did mortally wound the two policemen who tried to apprehend him, and injured 50 people in the immediate vicinity, while on his way to a promised heaven where 72 virgins awaited him, he did not make it to the hospital.

And on that same day, yesterday, the army rabbis started pulling the bones of the dead out of the cemeteries of the once flourishing communities of the Gaza strip, and the high court sat in judgment to decide whether to move synagogues from the strip, against the desire of the rabbis, and were reminded of how the Arabs desecrated a 16th century synagogue in Hebron by turning it into a public shit house… this in the 50s and 60s, after they had conquered the city, and before we won it back.

So I wasn't really in a mood to celebrate, even if the young couple were two beloved friends of mine, whose marriage was truly a joyous occasion, the conclusion of the chapter of youth for two truly beautiful people, and the beginning of a new chapter of partnership and sanctity, of building a home and a family, and in doing so, bringing two very different families to a common ground with love and joy.

And though I decided to go, it was more out of respect for my dear friend Eidan, to be there for him, and his new bride… and despite that decision, I'll admit, I had the fear, that my personal sadness and unhappiness might inject the lightest hint of something sour into the assembly of loving celebrating Jews, and that was the last thing I wanted to do… and it was because of that, that I asked my wife, and asked my children… you think I should go? Is it a good idea… cause it didn't seem like such a good idea to me.

The little town of maaleh hachamisha, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, had become swamped with cars, and well dressed happy people, as we found our way to the parking lot of the recreation center. And no sooner had we entered the green grounds, in the pleasant Jerusalem summer evening, plied with fine snacks, and listening to a top quality jazzy brass band complimented by a jivey keyboard, and here, we are greeting friends, smiles that melt solids, kisses that mend the aches, the wounds, and the fresh scars of our traumatic existence, and hugs… those warm bear hugs of love unmeasured and unconditional, and the steps of our feet become more dance then dunce as we move closer to the sound of music, and wish each other luck… so many beautiful people, ah such love, such joy.

It's a wonderful thing to have a few musicians playing at your party. It's more exciting, if they're good, than what any DJ can add to your festivities. But this groom is a young musician himself, a trumpet player, who knows how to pull a breath from his chest right through the metal and reverberate in space till the waves caress the angels of heaven, bringing a smile to all listeners, and a dance that starts between the ears, and radiates outwards from the shoulders to the hips and through the knees to the feet… and here come 15 of his musician friends, celebrating his happiness the way they know to celebrate many an anonymous occasion, only this time, the grooms joy is their own, and they let it flow, and flow it does, reverberating through the trees and from the grass up, and the kids are dancing, and mom and pop are dancing, and even an old gramps like myself, with a glass of scotch whiskey in one hand, and a camera gracefully balanced in the other, can't help but dance with a dumb smile on my face, as I greet more and more beautiful friends sharing, each of them, their happiness with abandon.

The Rabbi, a young man, who went to high school with quite a few of the friends gathered here tonight, greets the young couple with love, and greets the parents and the grandparents of the young couple who have come to bless them in their union. And then he greets the ghosts of the previous generations, who just couldn't stay away and have come from places unknown to us, to celebrate the day. And then he shares with us, this Rabbi, that are some who think that there are spirits of those yet to be born, who crowd around the holy canopy, wanting to be a part of the great celebration, wanting to see these two pledge themselves to each other.

It is the custom, at a Jewish wedding, to give the young couple a little time together alone after the actual ceremony, and while that was happening, we had a fine concert with two bandstands. Those that could sing, sang, and those that could play, played. There was a professional photographer who took the pictures in which you could recognize the characters, and that freed the artists among us to study what was happening more subjectively.

The food was excellent. There was goose and chicken and beef and salmon, and salads and vegetables of all kinds, and soft bubbly drinks were served to the minors, and the adults got wine, and no sooner did my glass get low than I was re-supplied with whiskey from Scotland, for my friends know my taste, and were very pleased to see me so happy.

Cakes and cookies and sherbet were brought to each table. Conversation was lively. From time to time, we'd go around visiting other tables, getting to know those from the other family, depending on which side had brought us to the celebration. I heard some great stories; stories of faith, and stories of wonder, and there were stories of learning, and blessings. There were those who desired to bless, and there were those who desired to be blessed. Those with the strength and the spirit, danced, and they lifted the bride up on a chair, as they danced, and the grooms friends lifted him on their shoulders so that the couple was seen dancing above us.

And there were a few new friends in the crowd, friends of friends who would soon be our friends, and a very dear friend who brought a new girlfriend, that gave us great happiness. Oh how great it is to see a beloved but lonely soul, accompanied now by a woman he cares for. Oh, I hope it works out for him, I heard one friend say to another, as I was taking my leave from sons and daughters and grandchildren beneath the deep blue black sky before gliding back to my car with the wife, for the quick drive up the hill, back to Jerusalem.