A first-hand account from your friend, family and neighbor

Mom, we’re ready to get engaged, but I’m so scared because Tattie is very sick. How will you manage to organize our wedding? He couldn’t even come to the Ohel for our engagement… what should I do?

“My dearest daughter, your older sister and her husband will take you to the Ohel so that the Rebbe’s bracha gets engaged. I will call Devorah Benjamin and everything will be fine, b’ezras Hachem!

The couple got engaged – “Mazel tov!” – and Devorah Benjamin sprung into action. Due to the precarious medical situation of the father of the kallah, he would not be able to travel to Crown Heights, Devorah Benjamin’s “territory” – the place where she has regularly organized these types of weddings for more than 25 years – was not an option. The only feasible plan involved Devorah Benjamin going out of town, where he lived. In addition, time is of the essence, because this man’s medical situation is very serious.

With limited time, very limited funds (this medical situation had depleted the family’s meager savings and the chosson had his own “situation” regarding money) AND in an unfamiliar city, one could imagine there would be ” a bit of madness with cutting corners on every aspect of this simcha… but NO! Everything was elegant, not just “respectable” – and there were relaxed smiles all around.

Music, photography (even a video!), elegant food and decoration… Even the father of the bride was miraculously able to get out of his sickbed and accompany his daughter to the chuppah, circling his chosson seven times. And no one would have ever imagined that the woman on the sidelines was none other than perhaps a caring family member, an aunt perhaps, helping family members get organized, on time and above all… HAPPY!!

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