My last three posts
have dealt with the on-going terror in Israel and I was determined to post
something fun this week. I haven’t wavered from my resolution but in light of
the gruesome murders in the Jerusalem synagogue this morning I beg all my
readers to pray for the wounded*.
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It was happening. It was finally happening. Tirza felt like a character in a romance novel, pinching herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. But the batch of brownies she was pulling out of the oven smelled too delicious to be a dream. Neither was her sparkling clean house. As she arranged the already cooled marzipan bars on her grandmother’s china plate she hummed happily to herself. Tonight they were going to meet Gavriel’s parents. Tonight, with HaShem’s help, Bracha would finally become a kallah. Tonight, at last, Tirza would be able to hold her head up and no longer think everyone was feeling sorry for her since she had three children in their mid-twenties and no one was even close to becoming engaged. Oh, she couldn’t wait to drink the l’chaim and then begin calling everyone.
It was happening. It was finally happening. Tirza felt like a character in a romance novel, pinching herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. But the batch of brownies she was pulling out of the oven smelled too delicious to be a dream. Neither was her sparkling clean house. As she arranged the already cooled marzipan bars on her grandmother’s china plate she hummed happily to herself. Tonight they were going to meet Gavriel’s parents. Tonight, with HaShem’s help, Bracha would finally become a kallah. Tonight, at last, Tirza would be able to hold her head up and no longer think everyone was feeling sorry for her since she had three children in their mid-twenties and no one was even close to becoming engaged. Oh, she couldn’t wait to drink the l’chaim and then begin calling everyone.
Gavriel and his parents
showed up exactly on time. With his dark eyes and curly hair, Ezra Rosen was an
older version of Gavriel. As he smiled his beautiful smile and shook Avner’s
hand he immediately set Bracha’s father at ease. Unfortunately, though, Gila
Rosen didn’t have the same effect on Tirza. From the perfectly styled wig down
to her designer heels Gavriel’s mother announced sophistication. Tirza fingered
her simple head covering, bought new for the occasion, with embarrassment.
Suddenly she noticed that their house could really use a coat of paint. Why,
she wondered, hadn’t she taken Yaffa up on her offer to loan her a couple of
silver trays.
Taking a deep breath
she called to Bracha. Her winsome daughter came down the staircase looking just
as polished as her, hopefully, mother-in-law-to-be. Bracha’s eyes sparkled as
she greeted Gavriel and welcomed his parents warmly.
“Gavriel, shall we go
for a walk while our parents get to know each other?”
He readily agreed and
Avner ushered Ezra and Gila towards the dining room table. Gila gasped at the
variety of cakes, fruits, and nuts.
“You’ve been busy,” she
spoke cordially.
“We don’t meet our
potential in-laws every day,” Tirza smiled feeling a bit more relaxed.
“Your daughter is just
lovely,” Ezra stated as they settled around the table.
“We think very highly
of Gavriel,” Avner said.
“So, we agree they
should get engaged?” Ezra asked.
Absolutely,” Avner
nodded his head adamantly.
“So,” Gila clapped her
hands together. “Let’s talk practicalities.”
Tirza nodded and passed
out pencils and paper.
“First of all,” Gila
declared, folding her hands in front of her. “All our other weddings were at
The Rothschild Hotel and we see no reason to do anything different this time.”
Tirza’s face blanched. “We have a savings account for each of our
children’s weddings but I don’t think there’s enough for The Rothschild Hotel.”
“Listen,” Gila’s voice
was firm. “Ezra’s the head doctor in his department. I’m a noted lecturer and
Gavriel’s a successful lawyer. There are a lot of people we have to impress
with our last wedding.”
Well, my husband is a
beloved teacher in the yeshiva here, I’m an experienced teacher with lots of
former students and their parents, and Bracha is a respected youth group
director with adoring teenagers and their families and we don’t have to impress
anyone. That’s what Tirza wanted to say but she didn’t.
Oblivious to the effect
her words were having on Bracha’s mother Gila waved her hand dismissively. “You
know, you can just make up the difference with the wedding checks they’ll
receive from your side.”
I don’t want to use the
checks to pay for some fancy hall. I want the couple to use them.
Before Tirza could say
those words Avner cleared his throat.
“In our circles we
usually give wedding presents and not checks.”
“Oh,” Gila faltered but
just for a second. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to pay for more than our half,”
she said cheerily.
Tirza felt herself
flushing as she blinked back tears.
“You know,” Avner spoke
quietly. “We have our own ideas about what we’d like to see at our first
wedding.”
“I’m sure you do,” Ezra
shook his head at his wife. “And we’d like to hear them, wouldn’t we, Gila?”
“Yes, yes, we would. I
think…”
At that point there was
a knock on the door and Bracha and Gavriel entered.
“So,” Gavriel asked.
“Is everything all settled? Are we ready to drink the l’chaim and thank
the matchmaker?”
“We didn’t expect you
so soon,” Gila paused. “We’re still working out details for the wedding.”
“But you agreed that
there would be a wedding, right?” Gavriel confirmed.
“Oh, yes,” the four
parents nodded their heads enthusiastically.
“So, don’t worry about
the details. Leave them up to Bracha and me.”
“Bracha and you?” Gila
was shocked.
“Sure,” Gavriel smiled.
“If we’re old enough get married we’re old enough to plan a wedding.”
“Do you know how many
events I plan every month?” Bracha asked rhetorically. “And as a finance lawyer
Gavriel can certainly handle the budget. Just give us the money you want us to
have for the wedding and we’ll use it wisely.”
“Well…” Gila wavered.
“I think it’s a great
idea!” Ezra declared. “How about you, Avner?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Where do you think
you’ll have the wedding?” Gila asked warily.
“Here at the yeshiva,”
Gavriel said decidedly.
“The yeshiva!” Gila
moaned. “It’s just a simple building, not at all fancy.”
“But,” Bracha told her,
“One of my best friends is a decorator. She’ll make it beautiful. And there’s
plenty of room for everyone to invite all the guests they want.”
“What about the food?”
Gila whined. “The chef at The Rothschild Hotel is a world-class chef.”
“We’ll get a world-class
caterer,” Bracha assured her.
“I don’t know.” Now
tears welled up in Gila’s eyes.
“This is what we want,”
Gavriel held his mother’s gaze. “Please be supportive. We’ll make a beautiful
wedding. It won’t be like the other weddings but it will be beautiful.”
“I hope so,” Gila capitulated.
She graciously took the glass of wine Tirza offered her, joined in the toast
enthusiastically, and pulled her cell phone out just like the others to begin
sending messages of the good news. Soon the house was full of well-wishers and
Gila found herself caught up in the excitement. Maybe the wedding wouldn’t be
so bad.
It wasn’t. Bracha’s
friend had done a suburb job on the yeshiva and the caterer’s food, though
simple, was amazing. Bracha was stunning in the wedding dress her aunt had sewn
for her but no one noticed the gown. Their eyes were riveted on the bride’s
shining face and Gavriel’s look of love as he stood next to her under the
chupah. Most impressive was the spirit of happiness that pervaded the yeshiva’s
dining hall. Neither Gavriel nor Bracha were a young chatan or kallah and the
guests were thrilled that they had finally found each other.
After the last photo
had been taken, Gila turned to Tirza.
“Do you see that girl,
there?” She indicated a diminutive young woman entertaining two of Gavriel’s
tired, little nieces.
Tirza nodded her head
wondering where the conversation was leading.
“She’s my best friend’s
daughter and I think she’d really be perfect for Bracha’s big brother. Would
you like me to work on it?”
“I, I ,I guess so,” Tirza stuttered. “But do you think
your friend would be okay with a wedding like this?”
“She’d love it!” Gila
was emphatic. “Just like I did.”
Smiling Tirza embraced
her daughter’s mother-in-law and said a prayer of thanks to HaShem.
*From this morning’s
attack:
Chaim Yechiel Ben
Malcha
Shmuel Yerucham Ben
Bilha
Avraham Shmuel Ben
Shayna
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