By Rabbi David Ashear
Shortly before their daughter Devorah’s* scheduled chasunah (wedding) date, Mr. and Mrs. Scheiner* were notified by the manager of the hall that due to Covid restrictions, all weddings were being canceled. The couple and their families were very distraught. What to do now?
Mr. Scheiner heard from a friend about the Roths*, a wealthy couple who had a very large home and backyard. “Maybe they would agree to host the wedding?” the friend wondered. Mr. Scheiner overcame his natural shyness, went to the Roths’ home, and rang their bell. When Mr. Roth opened the door, Mr. Scheiner explained the situation.
Then, swallowing hard, he said, “I know we are complete strangers. But is there any possibility you would consider opening your home and hosting my daughter’s wedding?”
Taken aback, Mr. Roth said he would need to discuss it with his wife first. When he brought it up with her later, her response was immediate and unequivocal. “Absolutely not!”
Although he understood his wife’s reluctance, he really wanted to do this chessed. “Shmuli* has been going through a very hard time since his divorce,” he said. “Let’s do this chessed as a zechus for our son.”
When Mrs. Roth heard those words, she changed her tune. “All right. For Shmuli’s sake I’m willing to do it.” They immediately contacted the Scheiners and told them it would be their pleasure to host the wedding. “In fact,” they added, “we would be honored to pay for it as well.”
Near tears, Mr. Scheiner thanked them profusely and told the couple that the wedding was on. The Roths hired a party planner to coordinate the wedding, and it was a beautiful celebration. After the guests left, the party planner remained behind to clean up.
“This was not part of our agreement,” the Roths pointed out. “Why are you going beyond the call of duty?”
“I am divorced,” she said. “I decided to do this wedding free of charge as a zechus for myself to get remarried. I know it’s hard for couples to get married these days, with all the Covid restrictions in place. I decided to help another couple and hopefully, in that zechus, Hashem will help me get married, too.”
“Oh, yes, we certainly understand,” said Mrs. Roth. “We hosted this wedding as a chessed in the zechus of our son, who is also divorced.” A few months later, Mr. and Mrs. Roth had the pleasure of hosting another wedding, when their son Shmuli married the party planner! Their wedding was celebrated in the very same location, a place that was infused with chessed. (Living Emunah on Shidduchim)
Reprinted from the Parshas Behalachoso 5784 email of The Weekly Vort.
