Wedding Celebration of Rav Berland's Great-Grandson

The Chuppah ○ “Simchat Beit HaTzaddikim” ○ The Kozatzke Dance ○ The Seven Beggars ○ Revival of the Dead ○ Holy Words ○ “VeYasharim Ya’alozu”

On Thursday night, the eve of the 4th of Elul, the wedding celebration was held for the great-grandson of Moreinu HaRav shlit"a, the groom R’ Shmuel Izik, son of the Rav’s dear grandson R’ Naftali Hertz Chaim Zucker shlit"a, with the daughter of R’ Nachman Arol shlit"a, son-in-law of the mashpia, R’ Shimshon Wallach shlit"a, one of the prominent talmidim of Moreinu HaRav shlit"a. The celebration of the Tzaddik is the celebration of all our community.

“Who sanctifies His people Israel”

Shortly after sunset, throngs of chassidim, talmidim of Moreinu HaRav shlit"a, streamed to the chuppah ceremony, which took place in the “Nof Ilit” hall at the entrance of the city of Torah -- Modiin Ilit, as the light of the Tzaddik illuminated the faces of the crowd. To the sound of soulful and stirring melodies in the background, the vehicle of Moreinu HaRav shlit"a appeared, arriving close to the chuppah, which began at 8:15 PM. The bride’s uncle, R’ Chaim Reicher, trilled the song “Mi Adir,” and Moreinu HaRav shlit"a was honored with arranging the chuppah and kiddushin. After the breaking of the glass and the “mazal tov” blessings, he read the ketubah with pleasantness and holy fire. For the first two blessings, the bride’s grandfather, R’ Yerachmiel Arol shlit"a, was honored. The third blessing was recited by the groom’s uncle, R’ Avraham Shmuel Gudlevsky shlit"a. The fourth—by the groom’s uncle, R’ Chaim Reicher shlit"a. The fifth—by the groom’s uncle, R’ Aharon Cheshin shlit"a. The sixth—by the bride’s brother, R’ Shmuel Izik Arol shlit"a. The multitudes answered “Amen” with great emotion that made hearts tremble and rose to the heart of the heavens. For the final blessing, Moreinu HaRav shlit"a was honored. After the conclusion of the Sheva Berachot, he wished “mazal tov” to the groom and bride and all the honored guests, showering them with his blessings—for future matches, children, and all good. The crowd responded “Amen” with great excitement, and with the singing of “Same’ach Tesamach,” the Rav shlit"a departed from the chuppah to a home in the Green Park neighborhood of the city, where he prayed Ma’ariv and engaged in Torah study until close to midnight.

“The voice of joy and salvation in the tents of Tzaddikim”

The masses of chassidim were invited to join the celebration of the Tzaddik’s family with a lavish bar beginning at 9:30 PM, with joyous dancing to gladden the groom and bride and to merit to the “five voices.” At 12:35 AM, Moreinu HaRav shlit"a reappeared in his holy splendor, together with the groom, at the wedding celebration, and the joy was magnified seven times over. The orchestra broke into song with the niggun “Kol Rinah VeYeshuah BeOhalei Tzaddikim,” and hundreds of chassidim standing in half-circles lifted up their voices in joyous song, with hearts full of exaltation in the joy of the Tzaddik, which is the joy of all our community. Moreinu HaRav shlit"a broke out in dance together with the groom, the fathers-in-law, and the family members, for about forty minutes, leaping and dancing with all his strength and supreme power, with phenomenal devekut resting on his face. One after another, the family members merited to dance with the groom, and everywhere one could sense the joy of the Tzaddik’s house. Especially moving was when Moreinu HaRav shlit"a gripped for a long time his dear disciple, the mashpia R’ Shimshon Wallach shlit"a, the bride’s grandfather, who despite his frailty did not give up, and with supernal strength danced together with his Rebbe—a sight that strengthened hearts and illustrated the words of Chazal: “The Ark carried those who carried it.”

“And they dance and make joyous before the groom”

At the conclusion of the dancing, Moreinu HaRav shlit"a sat at the pure table, with the groom and the fathers-in-law, the grandfathers shlit"a, and other honored guests at his side. Before the Rav shlit"a entered a troupe of “Cossacks,” who began the “Cossack Dance – the Kozatzke,” bowing respectfully before his holy presence. At the end of the joyous and unique dance, they approached to receive his pure blessing and merited to a shining countenance. This dance aroused longing for generations past, who too danced for the sake of Heaven to gladden the heart of the Tzaddik.

“And the Beggar said: Behold, I have come to you for the wedding”

After the Cossack Dance, one by one, avreichim of the Shuvu Banim Kollel, dressed in white kittels, entered for the dance of “The Seven Beggars,” with each avreich representing the “blemish” of one of the beggars from each of the days of the Sheva Berachot, as told by Rabbeinu HaKadosh in Story 13 of the holy book “Sippurei Ma’asiyot – Rabbi Nachman’s Stories.” This custom is inspired by that story, and besides bringing joy to the groom and bride, this dance has the power to bring salvations and arouse great mercy for all Israel. After the dance, which lasted many minutes, the avreichim passed before Moreinu HaRav shlit"a and merited to be blessed with a shower of blessings.

“Who revives the dead with His word”

Afterward came the dance of the “Revival of the Dead.” As known to all, Moreinu HaRav shlit"a has spoken many times over the years about the greatness of this dance at a wedding celebration, explaining that this custom is observed to show that at a wedding one can literally revive the dead. The holy task was carried out by his grandson and attendant, R’ Dov Zucker, who, for the joy of the bride and groom, donned different garments, along with the young chassid Nachman ben R’ Shmuel Izik Zucker. The act of the “Revival of the Dead” itself was performed by R’ Dov, by instruction of the Rav shlit"a, placing upon the “dead man” the shtreimel of the Rav shlit"a, whereupon the “dead man arose to resurrection” and the two broke into dance in honor of the groom and bride.

“At a wedding one can revive the dead”

At the end of the “Revival of the Dead,” Moreinu HaRav shlit"a delivered words concerning the groom and bride, and reminded everyone that at a wedding one can revive the dead, and that through the dancing we will all merit to be in Uman and to the complete redemption, speedily in our days, Amen. Thus, the joy was felt not only as a private joy, but as a preparation for the universal joy soon to come. Afterward, Moreinu HaRav shlit"a departed to the song “Or Zarua LaTzaddik,” which accompanied him on his way to returning to his holy home at around 2:10 AM.