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Weekly Chasidic Story #1289 (s5782-51) 25 Av 5782/Aug. 22, 2022 "Double Weddings Twice" Their friends wanted to rejoice at both weddings, but how is it possible to dance at two weddings at the same time?
Connection: One of the main sources for the commandment of tzedakah (‘charity’) is in this week’s Torah reading. (Deut. 15:7-8)
Story in PDF format for more convenient printing
'Double Weddings Twice'Two delightful young men learning in the same excellent yeshiva reached the age of marriage. They both found their matches and had already set the date for their weddings. It turned out that they both picked the same date for their weddings on the same night. The problem was that their friends wanted to rejoice at both weddings, but how is it possible to dance at two weddings at the same time? Moreover, the conflict was compounded. This is not the first time this happened. Usually, the Rosh Yeshiva ['principal'] or someone appointed for this would divide the people, half of them going to one hall and the other half going to the other hall. However, here, one of the boys was a real 'chevraman' [socially outgoing], who was involved in every aspect of the yeshiva and there was not one boy in the yeshiva who did not have something to do with him. The other boy was a fine young man, but when compared to the first chassan ['bridegroom'] he was quiet and gentle. So despite all his fine characteristics, all the guys would rather dance at the wedding of the popular first boy. The quiet boy was strongly affected. He decided to go to the Rosh Yeshiva to present his problem and to ask for advice. The Rosh Yeshiva realized that the boy was right; he told him that he would work on it to come up with a solution. After thinking about it, the Rosh Yeshiva called the father of the quiet boy and presented the situation to request that for the benefit of his son he should change the date of the wedding. The response was that after consulting with the girl's parents the date could not be changed. Having no choice, the Rabbi next called the father of the popular boy and explained the problem that even though it was not his problem since his son was popular, but this was preventing the joy of the other boy. The father agreed to try to help; he said he would try to change the date of the wedding. He started that same day, phone-calling halls, and he continued the next day until found an available one. Unfortunately, this hall charged 3,000 shekel more than the original hall. It was a difficult decision, but in the end he decided to absorb the extra cost -- even though it was not his problem, he went above and beyond. The other side was impressed, and happily agreed, even though the invitations with the first date had already gone out. A few days later, the popular boy attended a sheva berachos [week of celebratory meals immediately following the wedding]. When he was asked to say some words of Torah, he gave a rousing speech. One of the participants approached him and asked if he was already married or engaged. He replied that indeed he was engaged and that he was getting married on a certain date. The man choked up. After a minute or so he explained. "Just today, a close friend asked me if I knew anyone getting married on that date you just told me. He is marrying off his son on that same date. You may not know this, but many of the wealthy have the custom to help pay for another wedding on the same day they are making one, and now I am happy to be able to tell him that I found a chassan worthy of his generosity!" Two days later, the father of the chassan received $5,000 for wedding expenses as partnership participation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Connection: One of the main sources in the Torah for the mitzvah
of tzedakah ['charity] is in this week's Torah Reading, Ekev (15:7-8).
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Yerachmiel
Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor
of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories
to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them
live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.