As the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Av approaches – which some refer to as “Jewish Valentine's Day” – starting on the evening of August 1, thousands of people will come together on the streets of Israel to sing, dance and rejoice with their loved ones.
For Lisa Glassner and Matt Frank, this ancient day of matchmaking and a current celebration of love will mark two months since they celebrated their union with a wedding blessing in the Jewish homeland on the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Israel 75 Mission.
After meeting at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and dating for two years, Glassner and Frank initially tied the knot on a cruise ship in their dream wedding ceremony. Yet there was one element missing: a Jewish component to honor the couple’s strong spirituality.
Feeling disconnected from their heritage, Glassner found a remedy when she heard about the Jewish Federation’s Israel 75 Mission. Having been involved with the Jewish Federation and previously serving on its Women’s Philanthropy board in the past, Glassner knew it would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate her and Frank’s union amidst a Jewish backdrop.
“Since the first time I went to Israel, which was on a Jewish Federation women’s mission in 2001, I have always known that traveling with the Jewish Federation allows for opportunities and experiences that you can never duplicate on your own,” explained Glassner, who was also a recipient of the Jewish Federation’s prestigious Young Leadership Award in 2000.
A unique experience, filled with joy, community and tradition, was exactly what Glassner received on May 18 in Jerusalem when Rabbi Eric Yanoff, the mission’s rabbi-in-residence, led a moving wedding blessing for the couple.
“Being able to have our wedding blessing with the Old City of Jerusalem in the background while the sun was setting went beyond the spiritual Jewish experience that we even imagined it could be,” Glassner expressed. “We had communicated with the Jewish Federation staff and Rabbi Yanoff ahead of time and through their thoughtful consideration, they made sure that every detail exceeded our expectations.”
For Glassner, one of the most “moving and impactful aspects” of the celebration was how its location in Jerusalem connected the couple to centuries of Jewish history and customs, including the traditional blessings said at Jewish weddings. The last of these Sheva Brachot – seven blessings – states that the sounds of joy and happiness should be heard throughout the streets of Jerusalem on the day of the wedding.
“Since our wedding blessing took place on May 18, which happened to be Flag Day in Jerusalem, the people truly were dancing and celebrating in the streets,” Glassner noted. “It was surreal!”
According to the Jewish Federation’s Chief Development Officer Sarah Solomon, creating special moments like these, where community members are brought together and uplifted, is the goal of the Jewish Federation’s programs.
“The Jewish Federation invests in programs focused on developing deep, long-lasting connections to Judaism and the Jewish community. Often, this happens through life-changing experiences like our recent Israel 75 community mission,” Solomon stated. “To be able to celebrate simchas – joyous occasions – thousands of miles from home, is a meaningful example of building community and supporting one another.”
Glassner and Frank were not the only couple on the Israel 75 Mission to experience a simcha.
Mission participants Abby and Edwin Grinberg had an intimate ceremony, where they renewed their vows in honor of 60 years of marriage in Jerusalem on May 19. The Grinbergs were able to celebrate their milestone of love with their three daughters, including Jewish Federation’s Director of Affinities and Volunteer Engagement Marni Davis, who was staffing the mission.
“Renewing our vows in Israel was beyond special,” Abby Grinberg said. “Jewish life and Jewish traditions have always been important to us and our family, and to be able to say to each other that we will love and support each other until death do us part, with Jerusalem as a backdrop, brought us full circle.”
For Davis, having her parents, who are lifelong supporters of the United Jewish Federation in Pittsburgh and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, renew their vows on this mission that she spent two years working to bring to life, underscored the closeness and support of her family.
“The fact that my parents and sisters and I could all share this together is proof of what my parents instilled in us: a love for Judaism and traditions and a promise to support one another and show up for each other,” Davis said.
Rabbi Yanoff, who facilitated both of these ceremonies, hopes that the love and support felt in these moments will continue to strengthen the couples’ relationships with each other and with Israel.
“My prayer is that these couples will bring home with them the feeling of love and attachment to Israel and Judaism that was so unmistakable in those moments of simcha,” he noted. “Every time and in every way they celebrate their love in the future, I pray it will be fueled in part by the special moment we shared together in Israel.”
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