We Decided to Organize a Wedding for a Needy Couple, but Now We Have 600

"A couple canceled their wedding and wants to donate the evening to another couple as a gift. Perhaps you know someone interested in this?" This was the headline of a post published last week by Ohad Dvoret, a counselor at the 'Ezra' youth movement.

"Dear friends," he added, "I am from the 'Ezra' branch in Mevo Horon. At the start of the break, we decided to organize a wedding for a couple in need. But a few weeks ago, at the peak of preparations, the couple canceled. Now we have everything for the wedding (a hall, a band, photographers, videographer, makeup, hair stylist, and many more things) but no couple. We really don't want to cancel everything. So, if you know a couple who would be happy for us to organize them an amazing and significant wedding on the 27th of Elul, please forward this message to them."

Over 600 Requests

If you are immediately trying to think of such a couple, you should pause now. In a conversation with Ohad, he notes that from the moment the message was published, he received more than 600 calls within a few days from couples wishing to receive the wedding.

"We didn't expect such a response," he says. He also mentions, "The idea came to my mind at the beginning of the year, when I took the role and asked myself what I wanted to strengthen in my students and what I wished to teach them. I concluded that today's generation doesn't exactly appreciate what they have, certainly not the small things.

"I tried to think of how we could change that, and then the idea arose - to organize a wedding for a couple with nothing. The students would be the ones to raise funds and organize the entire wedding from start to finish. They would even set the tables and serve, to understand and appreciate what they have and their ability to give to others.

"Toward the summer break," Ohad adds, "I managed to find a couple who was very happy for us to organize the wedding for them, and indeed we started organizing and preparing. My students raised funds through fundraising evenings, fairs, and other means, through which we planned to cover catering costs and other expenses. Additionally, we involved professionals who agreed to volunteer and give their services for free, like a makeup artist, a videographer, and a DJ. The wedding was expected to take place in the hall in Mevo Horon. The students had already prepared and were excited, but then, when we were at the peak of preparations, the couple approached us and announced they had someone else who would organize their wedding, and they didn't want to use the donation funds we had raised just like that."

Ohad wishes to emphasize that although from the published message it seemed the couple canceled the wedding, this is not true. "The couple simply decided they didn't need us to organize the event for them because they found someone else. By the way, since the message made it sound as if the wedding was canceled, many marriage counselors and people called me wanting to assist the couple who 'canceled the match.' I emphasize again – the match isn't canceled, and the couple will marry with Hashem's help, but personally, my heart was truly warmed by the desire of the people of Israel to help and assist."

How Can One Remain Indifferent?

At this stage, Ohad says they have already selected a new couple from the hundreds of inquiries that will benefit from the wedding. "It was very difficult for us to choose from so many requests. So, initially, we filtered out those who said the date wasn't suitable for them or that the hall wasn't in their area. Then we removed those who seemed less needy, and finally, we chose a lovely couple truly in need of the wedding donation, and it helps them greatly. They are a couple who had planned to have the wedding later, but when they saw our offer, they decided to seize the opportunity and advance the event."

However, Ohad notes that many couples contacted them and were very sorry that they didn't receive the donation. "People do not realize the financial situations couples are in," he says with regret, "This led me to reach out to many counselors I know and ask them to organize similar projects. I think it's a privilege for all of us – anyone capable of donating, organizing, or initiating. It's a huge and tremendous help; you can't stand aside."