Our son Daniel (aka Lt Ledeen, USMC, based in Okinawa) is in the midst of week-long events that will culminate in the wedding ceremony on Thursday afternoon here in Jerusalem. He is marrying Natalie Almog, a woman born and raised in Houston. They both attended Rice University, met and fell in love there, and so here we are: Daniel, daughter Simone, son Gabriel, Barbara and me, delighting in fabulous sunny weather in one of the world’s truly magical cities.
Why Jerusalem? Because Natalie’s dad, Avner, grew up on a kibbutz along with seven — or is it eight — siblings, and while he went to America and married a Texan woman, Rose, the others stayed here and so the bulk of the bride’s family are in Israel. The elders came to Israel from Morocco in the forties, part of the huge but rarely remarked exodus of North African Jews after the Second World War. So this wedding is very different from the typical North or Central European ceremony most Americans are used to. It’s Sephardic, not Ashkenazi, and it’s very Moroccan. Last night we participated in the Henna Ceremony, at which bride, groom, and immediate family members dress in traditional robes (and for me, a big fez), and put a circular patch of Henna on the palm of their right hand. That mark will stay with us for several weeks (I hope TSA won’t ask a lot of pointed questions when we come back). It wards off the evil eye, and initiates wild music, dancing, ululating and of course eating and drinking.
Lots of noise. No quiet conversation, if you see what I mean. Very little sitting. An incredible intensity. And it’s just the beginning.
In the next few days, there will be ritual baths for bride and groom, a formal marriage contract negotiated by me and Avner, a fast for Daniel, and then the ceremony.
Congratulations. Wish you and your family the best. This is great news.
I can relate to Ledeen’s experience-sort of.
I recently married off my own precious son in Jerusalem. He immigrated to Israel in 2007 after they both graduated from MIT-a match made in (problem set) heaven. Having served in the IDF, now a reservist, he too knows what service to ones country is.
However, ours was an Ashkenazi wedding, while Ledeen’s was Sephardic, two sides of the same Jewish coin, but with many distinguishing customs.
Truth be told, there is nothing more earthy than attending gatherings with Sephardic Jews. They are priceless-in a good way.
Mazal tov,enjoy Jerusalem-our eternal capital for thousands of years!
Mazal Tov!
Sim’n Tov u Mazel Tov!!!! So happy for you all. Greetings from a fellow Jarhead family!
Warmest congratulations to you and your family, your son Daniel and his soon to be wife Natalie!
The week long ceremony is fantastic.
Best wishes for a long life of love, happiness and health together.
Enjoy all the magic!
All the best to the young couple. Since you are in Israel sir and if you have the time, try to look up Menashe Amir, former head of Israeli Radio Farsi service and Ambassador Lubrani who was Israel’s last top diplomat in Tehran prior to the Disaster of 79. They are both great guys and they are very knowledgeable about Iran. In fact I’d say they are among the best in the world as far as Iranian experts go. Take care boss and enjoy the good food, good weather and good times!
Mazal Tov! Careful about the contract negotiations, though. Make sure you don’t settle for less in dowry than your fine son deserves. Sephardis bargain hard.
Mazal Tov. Have fun, I just attended my nephews wedding and had a blast.
Dear Daniel, on this special lovely occasion…I wish you, Daniel and your angel, Natalie a happy bright future and beautiful married life filled with true love, peace, good health and everlasting joy and happiness…wishing you both a lifetime of togetherness and ALL the love on the earth, for now and forever
Warm hearty congratulations on your wedding, my brother, Daniel and sister Natalie…and the warmest hearty congratulations to both families…a lot and a lot and a lot of LOVE to you ALL
Also I congratulate you on your “very wonderful father” who has a very good heart, who is a wise man and witty and courageous, who today indeed, is one of the rare outspoken people in the west…We are extremely proud and admire him…
“As it were, a women are something very special and greatly sacred, our lives without them is like life without water or air”, so please accept these beautiful and lovely songs on the occasion of your wedding. I love it….Tim & Faith, really fantastic couple, and real Americans, I love them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohC7o_PPPtY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvuxdoFnj-Q
Daniel, may God bless and watch over you as much as what you’re watch over people.
Jassem Othman
A half-Jewish friend of mine married a (nominally Muslim but liberal) Berber woman. In Montreal. They had almost the same henna ceremony.
Sephardim, Askenazic – doesn’t matter. All Jews are one.
Mazel Tov on such a Mitzvah!
Congratulations Mr. Ledeen to you and you family on this
wonderful event. It certainly made my day a little better.
Congratulations to your son and his wife-to-be!! What a great opportunity to experience a culture unlike our western ways, but equally important.Thank you, sir, for your columns and insights! Mazel Tov!!
Mazal tov
By the way there is no “Ashkenazic” and “Sefardic” weddings. Amongst Ashkenazim customs for weddings vary from place to place as do Seferdim. I have been to many weddings and the most interesting one was a Teman (Yemeni Jewish)Wedding
Mazel tov!
May God bless this marriage, and offer safe passage to all who witness it. Thank you for sharing!
Mazel Tov and have lots of nachis.
Siman Tov u’Mazal Tov, … and enjoy the fun.
Love,
Malek Towghi
Mazal Tov! Your article really warmed my heart–it’s just what I needed here in STILL snow-bound NYC.
Now, that is what I call a wedding, rather than the rushing about in the ceremony and the reception, which characterize far too many weddings.
May the wedding be a very good reality to remember fondly, regardless of whatever the future brings.
May the establishment of the new family, and the ties between the bride’s side of the family and the groom’s side of the family, be edifying.
Congratulations on this wonderful occasion. It’d be great to read more about the ceremony after it happens!
Congratulations, Michael! It sounds like a wonderful time.
Very best wishes!
Weddings are wonderful things!
Mazel Tov!
Mazal Tov! And don’t worry if the sunny days turn to rain on Thursday. Besides needing the rain in Israel, we say, “kol tipah brachah” (each individual drop is a blessing) and it’s really a sign of blessing for a couple who marry when it’s raining. May they have a beautiful life together and may you have many years of nachis from your extended family.
Mazel Tov!
Michael: Congratulations and blessings and prayers to the bride and groom!
From our tradition to yours:
“May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you: and may He fulfill His blessing in you: that you may see your children’s children even to the third and fourth generation, and thereafter may have life everlasting.”
L’chaim to all!
Michael and Barbara — Mazel Tov to two great parents! Lots of love, Bob and Suzanne
tks bob/suzanne, it’s been fabulous. magical.
I would be tickled pink if you would post a picture from the august wedding showing you donning a Fez. Michael, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Corny, I know. Couldn’t resist.
august? it was last thursday…
august not August:-)
right, tks.
Micheal,
What an truly wonderful…excellent wedding!!
Our trip was a eye opening experience! Israel is such a beautiful country!!! I wish the rest of the world would learn how hard work, a strong commitment to rule of law, and service for the people.. by the people leads to a strong democratic nation!! I was amazed at the infrastructure and development of the economy despite the constant threats to the state of Israel’s existence.
Mazel Tov!!! All the best to the Daniel & Natalie, and the whole family. God Bless!
J&M
Micheal,
What a fabulous wedding!! We enjoyed not only the wedding but our trip to Israel (1st time). It was truly magical and eye opening. It opened our eyes at what group of people can do in 60 years to rebuild a strong, democratic nation. The commitment to rule of law, development of institutions, strong leadership, and hard work showed to us that the problem does not lie with Israel but with its neighbors.
Despite our learning experience, we want to say Mazel Tov and wish Daniel and Natalie a successful, healthy, and prosperous life with one another. What a wonderful couple!!!
Thank you Ledeens and thank you Israel!!!
Many thanks,
Jeff & Mitra
It was wonderful that you came. Yes, Israel is amazing, more amazing than most of us suspect.