A Decade Later, a Wedding Day's Most Memorable Moment Was a Homeless Man's Greeting
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Ten years after his wedding, the author reflects on the most meaningful moment of his special day: the repeated warm greetings from a homeless man named Boaz. The author's wedding day in Jerusalem involved prayers, visits to holy sites, and a farewell to his parents before the ceremony. The most vivid memory is Boaz's enthusiastic "Mazal tov! Now the life!" both before the reception and later that night as the couple arrived at their new home. This encounter symbolizes the author's decade-long feeling of fulfillment since marrying Shuli and starting their family.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A man recalls his wedding day ten years ago, highlighting a homeless man's greeting as the most memorable moment.
- The author received repeated "Mazal tov! Now the life!" greetings from Boaz, a homeless man in Jerusalem.
- The wedding day included prayers at holy sites and a farewell to the author's parents.
- The author's perspective on life changed significantly after marrying Shuli.
- The past decade has involved raising three children and navigating life's ups and downs.
Ten years ago, the author marked his wedding day with a series of spiritual and familial rituals in Jerusalem. The day began with morning prayers at his parents' home, followed by a dip in the cold waters of Ein Handak spring in the Jerusalem hills with his father and brother Noam. They then visited the grave of Rabbi Zion Baruch, who had influenced his father's religious observance and was his own sandak (godfather at brit milah).
Later that day, after a poignant farewell to his parents, the author prepared for the wedding ceremony. He recalls looking out at Jerusalem from his hotel room and then dressing in his formal attire. The most striking encounter before the ceremony was with Boaz, a well-known homeless man in the neighborhood, who offered a hearty "Mazal tov! Now the life!" as the author headed to the hall.
While the wedding ceremony itself and the reception are remembered as a blur, the author pinpoints the true highlight of the day as occurring after the festivities concluded. As he and his new wife, Shuli, arrived at their small home in the Nachlaot neighborhood, Boaz was again present, sitting on his usual cardboard, and repeated his warm greeting. This encounter, the author states, encapsulates the feeling he has had for the past decade: "Now the life."
The author reflects on how his perspective on life has transformed since meeting Shuli. He describes a period of disillusionment during his bachelor years, contrasting it with his current contentment. The past ten years have been filled with the joys of raising their three children, Akiva Eliyahu, Alma Sol, and Libi Tirtzah, alongside personal milestones, family losses, global events like the pandemic, and everyday occurrences. He concludes by expressing his enduring love and happiness with Shuli.