On December 24th of last year ( just short of two weeks ago) I wrote about wonderful event that showed what Achdus in Klal Yisroel could look like. A beautiful couple got married. The Chasan was a product of a Telshe type upbringing and the Kala was brought up as a Lubavitcher.
These two communities rarely have anything to do with each other. Normally there is quite a bit of animosity between them. But the wedding was an integrated affair. Leaders and members from both communities participated together- sharing Kibbudim under the Chupah and dancing with the Chassan and the Kala.
I pointed out that the unity between these two communities did not eliminate the underlying issues between them and that those issues needed to be resolved.
That post generated a lot of information in the comments section some of it accurate and some of it not. This has generated a response from the Kala herself. She responded in the comments section. I found her comments to be both fascinating and illuminating. So much so that I have decided to post it in its entirety except for one very minor edit. Here now, her words:
My husband and I would like to clear up a few things. While the Chosson does not and has not worn a hat since Yeshiva, wearing the hat during the chuppah ceremony was a request made by the Mesader Kedushin, Rabbi Levin, and was respectfully fulfilled. Also, the choosing of Rabbi Levin as the MK, while chosen by my father-in-law, was certainly not forced upon us.
As for me, my parents are Lubavitchers, however not Mashichists or Yechi'niks, or whichever term suits your fancy. I feel you made that clear in your blog but many did not see it as clearly.
I agree that many Lubavitchers, even the ones who aren't Mashichist, are overly Rebbe-centered and not G-d-centered enough. This has always been my personal hang up with Lubavitch. However I believe it's worth noting that this is not the case with all Lubavitchers and was NOT the way I was brought up in my home.
My family is Lubavitch, keep Lubavitch minhagim, and have Rebbe pictures and dollars in the home, but the Rebbe and Hashem have always had distinct and separate positions in speech, thought, and action.
As modernchassidish wrote, the reading of the Rebbe's letter is not read in present tense because we believe he's alive or that the letter was actually written specifically to us, it's read in present tense because that's how the letter was written to people at the time, why change it. It's still read because, "they are making themselves aware that the Rebbes wishes and message to Choson and Kala are relevant today and should be taken to heart."
Thank you so much for the video. We've all (parents and siblings included) watched it several times. I really like the candidness of it. Love the shot of the two separate invitations in the beginning.
I didn't even get to see the real achdus that took place that night until I saw the video. I had an opaque veil covering my face during the entire chuppah, so seeing all the various factions of our Orthodox community on one stage was really beautiful. Thanks again and to all who came and made the wedding the wonderful simcha that it was.
