Thank you
On the 14th of Kislev, 5689 (1928), the Rebbe married Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneersohn, the middle daughter of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn – the Rebbe Rayatz.
The first part of the wedding celebration – “kabalat panim” – was held in the Tomchei Temimim Yeshivah in Warsaw, with many distinguished guests in attendance. Entrance was strictly by invitation, and despite the limited space, the yeshiva hall was able to accommodate about a thousand guests. However, entrance to the chuppah ceremony (in the yeshivah’s inner courtyard) was free, and it was reported that over 5,000 people attended the chuppah.
The Rebbe Rayatz did the Siddur Kiddushin and recited all the Sheva Brochos (Seven Blessings). The Radziner Rebbe was honored to read the kesubah. The public talks, festive activities and dancing went on until seven a.m. the next morning…
The Rebbe’s parents, living in the former USSR, were denied permission to travel to their son’s wedding in Warsaw. That evening, they held their own wedding celebration in their home, in which the entire community participated. The atmosphere was so joyous, it even seemed that they were at the actual wedding.
Years later, on Shabbos 14 Kislev, 5714 (1953), the 25th anniversary of his marriage the Rebbe opened his farbrengen by saying the chassidim:
“This is the day that bound me to you and you to me. Together, we will invest effort and bring about the true and complete redemption. May HaShem help us to see good fruits from our work!”.
The essence of a wedding joy – in the Rebbe’s words:
– Among the seven wedding blessings, there is the blessing that says: “as You bestowed gladness upon Your created beings in the Garden of Eden of old.” The “wedding” referred to in that phrase is interpreted as the union between Adam and Chava, for in the Garden of Eden of old, before confusion and evil were present in the world, there was no one else. This blessing is made at every Jewish wedding for the joy at every wedding must parallel the gladness “You bestowed upon Your created beings in the Garden of Eden of old.” The essence of every Jewish marriage is the same as the essence of the marriage between Adam and Chava… (From the Rebbe’s talk on Shabbat Parashat “Vayishlach”, 14th Day of Kislev, 5741 (1980).
