Chasunah Finally Held After 140-Day Delay Due to War

About 50 Jewish refugees from Ukraine and members of the Jewish community in Kishinev found it difficult to wipe away their tears. After 4 months of uncertainty, they attended the wedding of Menachem Zevin and Ayala Shirel, Chabad.info reports.

The two – a ba’al teshuva couple, she from the Kyiv region and he a native of Russia who moved to Brooklyn a few years ago – got engaged earlier this year. They closed on a hall in Kiev for the Hebrew date of Adar II, March 8, but the war forced them to change plans.

Ayala fled to Moldova with hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, passing through checkpoints, bumpy and dangerous roads, and then asked to fly to the US, where the intended groom lives and is a practicing doctor. The Americans refused to give her an entry visa, despite articles on the subject in the American media, and attempts by Jewish activists to assist in the matter also came to naught.

Ayala, who became part of the community in Kishinev, decided that the wedding would take place in Kishinev. She turned to the Jewish Chabad community in the city, headed by Rabbi Abelski, and asked for help. The rabbi, together with Chabad Shluchim in the area, helped organize the event, rented the Bristol Hotel lobby in Chisinau and Kashered it.

The kitchen staff of the Great Synagogue in Kishinev, led by the shliach Rabbi Mendy Gotzel, cooked the seudas mitzvah, which was held in the presence of the happy couple’s family and community members, as well as dozens of war refugees. The chupah was held by the Rabbi of Kishinev, Rabbi Mendy Axelrod.

At the event Rabbi Abelski said, “I am glad that in the midst of all the terrible pain of war, loss and destruction, we were able to help Ayala and Menachem establish a faithful home in Israel and we wish them all the blessings in the world. We took advantage of the wedding to clarify to those present the importance of marriage between Jewish spouses exclusively and I hope we will always be busy with joy. ”

Rebbetzin Chaya Zalmanov, a Chabad Shlucha to the country, who accompanied the kalla throughout the last period, wrote after the wedding: “I had the great privilege of leading a Kallah to the chupa! A Jewish chupa, kosher and real. The war in Ukraine brought many of us to situations we never dreamed of, even this exciting moment when I led the bride – dear Ayala, to the chupa, was one such moment. A few months ago I was so excited to hear from her that she wants to have the wedding here, in Kishinev. The place that received her with open arms during an escape from war. A few days of quick preparations, catering the kosher food from home, photographer, makeup artist, flight for the groom and finally the white dress was taken out of the suitcase, the dress that escaped with her from the bombed-out city of Kiev… Everyone here was excited and surrounded the chosson and kallah with warmth. True, we have only known her for five months, I am not her sister, nor a cousin, but what does it matter, we are all one big family. Congratulations Menachem and Ayala. Have a happy life together!”