This is “Amanda + Michael Highlight” by Lazylambs Films on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
— Read on vimeo.com/296775093

It was a beautiful evening and a joy to officiate at the wedding. Many blessings of love and peace.

I was in Paris a week ago getting ready to officiate at a wedding.  I came across these locks on the bridge that crosses over to the Orsay. Be it in Paris, New York or wherever it’s beautiful when two people have found each other! I watched a couple place their locks on the bridge. I sent them my best wishes.

We walked from Flatbush Avenue Prospect Park. We were a caravan of family and friends who travelled far and wide to witness a ceremony infused with love and with great joy.

The Sisterhood Of Huntington Jewish Center met two nights ago for our Rosh Chodesh gathering. This is a monthly tradition of women studying texts together.

It’s that very powerful time in the Jewish calendar year: it is Elul, the month before Rosh HaShana. I was honored to facilitate.

Here are some questions that we looked at:

How well do we listen when someone is talking to us?

Are we checked out, interrupting or present with them?

What is our response when faced with an intractable situation?

Do we rebuke, engage, bide our time, or move on to find kindred spirits?

A start might be to gather in a circle, as we did, and join our voices in the niggun and depth of Adon Olam. We can hold each other in support at this sacred time of possibility and transformation.

Certainly we are not alone. We are all held in way that are both seen and unseen.

Thank you to Rabbi Adina Lewittes and B’nai Jeshurun for our study materials

There is so much work that goes into the planning of the wedding. These include the venue, the flowers, the menu, the bridal party and of course planning the ceremony.

The moment that the couple become “married” is just spectacular.

This third week of counting the Omer, we are exploring different aspects of Tiferet:Beauty. I am in the midst of working with many couples, who are planning their ceremony’s and getting married. I’m struck by how eager they are to listen to their partners’ as they talk about themselves. They are respectful, and kind and funny. They are so very thoughtful about the words that they want to share on their wedding day. This a reminder to me that Tiferet, is always yearning to be both expressed and embraced.

We can choose to explore what it’s like to leave our comfort zone and take on the practice of a week of Matzo. It seems to me that when we feel constriction .. expansion is such a grand thing. There’s pleasure in the Matzo crunch. There will be, for me, even greater pleasure, in the release and bite of that French bagette. via Daily Prompt: Explore

Today I found myself looking this stunning and familiar painting on a Chagall Calendar. I have seen the painting many times. But today, with the new moon of Shevat about to make its appearance I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Something about her gaze..is it uncertainty or is it focus? The groom, on the other hand,  is very present and feels connected to his bride. For sure they are surrounded by music and sunshine.

This was a beautiful and intimate  Interfaith wedding that took place in Manhattan. The couple exchanged vows and rings. It was touching to share the reading that they selected:

The Promise by Eileen Rafter

The sun danced on the snow with a sparkling smile;

As two lovers sat quietly alone for awhile.

Then he turned and said, with casual air

(though he blushed from his chin to the tips of his hair),

“I think I might like to get married to you.”

“Well then, she said, ‘there’s a thought.

But what if we can’t promise to be all that we ought?

Can you promise, say, that you won’t rage and shout,

If I’m late yet again, when we plan to go out,

For I know I can’t promise I’ll learn to ignore

Dirty socks or damp towels strewn all over the floor.

So if we can’t vow to be all that we should

I’m not sure what to do though the idea’s quite good.”

But he gently smiled and tilted his head

Till his lips met her ear and softly he said

“I promise to weave my dreams into your own,

that wherever you breathe will be my heart’s home.

I promise that, whether with rags or with gold I am blessed,

Your smile is the jewel I will treasure the best.

Do you think then, my love, we should marry- do you?”

“Yes, she said smiling, “I do.”

And with the breaking of the glass they were wed!

Being Real:

Recently I was in the Museum of Design in Copenhagen. This photo was part of a display in their  garden cafe.

How exciting: someone asking another person “tell me about your dreams and I’ll tell you about mine.” How bold to  create an invitation to talk about fear and worries…how brave it is to be vulnerable.

Wishing you a partner in your life that you can open up to…and that they too can open up to you.