Montrealers attend bereaved Israeli couple’s wedding

Rabbi Mark Fishman, at left in back row, is leading a group of Congregation Beth Tivkah members, to a wedding in Israel that’s going ahead in defiance of terrorism.
Rabbi Mark Fishman, at left in back row, is leading a group of Congregation Beth Tivkah members, to a wedding in Israel that’s going ahead in defiance of terrorism

Rabbi Mark Fishman, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Tikvah, and 12 members of that Dollard des Ormeaux congregation are in Israel to attend the “million people wedding” of a bride whose father and brother were murdered by terrorists in the West Bank on Nov. 20.

They see it as an expression of unity to pray and dance with the young couple.

Sarah Techiyah Litman and Ariel Beigle are to be married Nov. 26 in the Jerusalem International Convention Centre. They postponed the wedding by a week after the deaths of Rabbi Ya’akov Litman and his 18-year-old son Netanel, refusing to put it off any further as a demonstration that life goes on in Israel.

They then invited the public to come to the wedding.

“Something about this story made a deeply personal impression on our community,” Rabbi Fishman said. “After postponing her wedding day due to sitting shivah, with bravery and courage [Litman] announced to the world that she wanted the whole Jewish People with her to dance and celebrate.

“I was moved and indeed inspired by her fortitude… While we are 12 people travelling to Israel, we know that we carry the well wishes of countless people in our hearts.”

Updates of the trip will be available via the synagogue website, or on the synagogue’s Facebook page.