Willow Tree

A Beautiful Story

Some better news now, to start Shabbat on a better note.:
via the e-mail from my good friend Renee (we pen-pal. She does not get mad if I'm late in writing She always has something lovely and interesting to say). I wanted to share the story with you all.

Just heard this story from my colleague Rabbi Chaim Mentz of Chabad of Bel Air, CA May we see miracles continuosly in our lives until Moshiach comes. Rabbi Zvi Konikov Chabad of the Space & Treasure Coasts 1190 Highway A1A Satellite Beach, FL 32937 (321) 777 2770 chabadspacecoast@att.net www.jewishbrevard.com

by Rabbi Chaim Mentz

In the summer of 2004 Andrew and Sharon finally became engaged and asked me,
their rabbi, from Chabad of Bel Air, CA if I will officiate at their wedding
ceremony on December 5, 2004? I was so happy for them, I answered OF COURSE,
as long as you meet the 4 basic requirements of a Jewish wedding,

I would be honored.

1) They are both Jewish.
2) The bride will go to the mikvah prior to the wedding.
3) The food will be kosher at the wedding;
4) Neither are still married to another person.

If so they must obtain a Get (Jewish Divorce).

Both smiled, and were delighted, because nothing can stop them now. The
wedding was set as planned. UNTIL........

During a private conversation Sharon confided in me, that she was once
married to a Jewish guy, (who she refers to as "the mistake"), but it was
only for six hours, and the courts gave her an annulment immediately ....
due to the terrible actions of the "mistake."

I could feel knots forming in my stomach. How do I tell her the last thing
on earth she wants to hear. I began saying, "Please understand that what I
am going to tell you, may surprise you, but you still need a Get. Six hours
or Six years is still considered being married."

"BUT THE COURTS ANNULLED MY MARRIAGE!"

"Rabbi .. please understand, IT WAS A MISTAKE."

Sharon who never ever wanted to revisit her past, let alone have contact
with â€oethe mistake", couldn't believe what I said. I continued saying to
her "I want to do your wedding, please understand I can't do it until you
get a Get (Jewish Divorce)."

"Rabbi what if I can't find "the mistake"? "Am I doomed forever?"

"Please let's not fall into any false hopes. I will be there for you. Let's
contact the Jewish courts in Los Angeles, and they will help us go through
this dilemma."

I explained to both Sharon and Andrew, nothing happens without a reason. The
fact you need a GET today shows that something important happened in
Sharon's life, even if it lasted only for six hours.

Sharon would not allow her wedding to be stopped due to her "mistake". She
continues to plan her wedding, and honeymoon.

After spending a few weeks with the Jewish Courts in Los Angeles, Sharon
finally was free from "the mistake", until the Jewish courts told her, "Now
that you have your GET you can marry, but not before 92 days from today.
WHAT???? Sharon and Andrew immediately called me; "are they crazy? Is this
true? Will you not do our wedding on December 5th?"

I, calmly explained to them Jewish law, and tried to reason with them, why
there is a 92 day wait. All they could think about was, their wedding plans,
their honeymoon, their BASHERT! For days, they didn't understand why they
would have to wait for January 2005 to get married.

After a few days, both Andrew and Sharon called me and said we want to do
our wedding right in G-d's eyes; so they began re-planning their wedding for
the end of January.

But still in the back of their mind, they couldn't understand why G-d was
delaying their wedding. Well, not until December 26th. You see, Andrew and
Sharon were supposed to be on their last days of their three week honeymoon
in the famous Kaafu Atoll Maldives hotels: on Lankanfushi Island.

Their hotel room would have been swept up by the tsunami.

Both Sharon and Andrew celebrated 'their miracle' on January 1st, with a
special Kiddush in our shul. As Andrew said ... Best advice the Rabbi ever
gave us, was "Follow the rules of G-d's Torah, it will be a blessing in the
end for the both of you!"

On January 23rd, Andrew & Sharon plan on having their wedding.

May G-d bless them with years of happiness and health together.