The Most Dangerous Wedding In The World
Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parashath Yithro 5772
Last Wednesday night I attended the most dangerous wedding the world.
The hathan (groom), a former student of mine, made the news last year when, before his enlistment into the Israeli Defense Forces [IDF], he declared in advanced that he would refuse to carry out any order to throw Jews out of their homes, or to aid in the destruction of Jewish strongholds and villages. In spite of the various threats thrown at him, he stood by his principles and held ground. In the end the IDF refused to enlist him, undoubtedly due to the "dangerous" influence such a soldier might have on his fellow recruits.
But, that was not why his was the most dangerous wedding in the world.
At one time, the hathan's father was a student of Rabbi Me'ir Kahane hy"d. It was no surprise to see several of his former students present. It was great to see two and three generations from the same families together, carrying on his tradition of Torah and Jewish Pride.
One of the "next generation" in attendance was one of the heroic, "Tapu'ah Three," three teenaged women, who for months were unjustly incarcerated, for the sake of the Land of Israel was there, a friend of the kallah (bride).
There were several of us at the wedding from K'far Tapu'ah. In fact, I was speaking with someone from Har Berakhah at a neighboring table. I happened to mention that the five of us at our table were from Tapu'ah. He said that he could tell. I asked him if it was due to how we looked, or how we behaved. He said, "Both."
I am not entirely sure how one could so easily be able to identify us as being from a particular town. Nonetheless, the presence of so many Jews from the town often referred to as a "thorn in the side of the Israeli government" was not why this was the most dangerous wedding in the world.
Women stood separately from the men at the huppah, and refrained from dancing while in the presence of the men. They did so, not because they were told to. They did so, because that was what they believed was proper, and according to the wishes of the families of the hathan and kallah.
Some, ignorance, assimilated Jews might call this course of action as result of "the internalized oppression and brainwashing by the hierarchical patriarchy." Even so, the presence of modest women was also not why this wedding was the most dangerous one in the world.
There were a few armed men, and possibly women at this wedding, but nothing usually for a wedding in Israel, and thus nothing to make it the most dangerous wedding in the world.
This wedding was the most dangerous wedding in the world for one, and only one, reason.
Each and every one of wedding guests themselves was personally responsible for creating foundation of the most dangerous wedding in the world.
The wedding guests included residents of various yishuvim (towns) in Yehudah and the Shomron (Judea & Samaria), so called "settlers" from the serious, non-suburban yishuvim, such as Hevron, K'far Tapu'ah, Itamar, Elon More, and Mitzpeh Yericho. That fact alone did not contribute to why this was the most dangerous wedding in the world.
The guests also included Haredim, Litvaks, as well as various strands of Hassiduth.
To cap it all off, they were many non-religious Jews in attendance.
Jews from across the spectrum were singing, dancing, and celebrating TOGETHER.
Not only do those who control the government find this to be dangerous, but so, too, do the leaders of various groups of Jews. Many religious leaders do not want theirs to be influenced by non-religious Jews, or even other religious Jews of the "wrong" variety. Anti-religious do not want their children coming home, and all of a sudden begin putting on tefillin.
None of them want to lose control over their masses.
Jewish unity is dangerous.
That is why this was the most dangerous wedding in the world.
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Note: Esser Agaroth is not a fan of using categories. If you have ideas for new and creative ways to describe Jews for the sake of emphasizing diversity, please let me know.
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