It was a dream come true. There beneath the chupah stood Rachel Sharansky, daughter of Natan and Avital Sharansky, with her beloved, Micha Danziger.
The hills of Jerusalem encircled us, like a wedding ring around the whole city. Jerusalem’s chilly winter days took a respite as the sun shone brightly; even the weather knew it was the time to feel the warmth and love of bride and groom.
Attending the wedding were many heroes of the Soviet Jewry movement, proud Jews who had struggled against the Soviet regime. There was Zev Dashevsky, the great Moscow Hebrew teacher, and Yosef Begun, one of the longest-serving prisoners of Zion.
Activists from the west who did all they could to free Soviet Jewry were there as well: former Union of Councils president Stuart Wurtman; Jerry Stern, who took out the first ad publicizing Natan’s plight; Gordy Zacks, a friend of the elder George Bush, who intervened on many occasions for Avital.
Also taking part in the great joy was the team of unknown Israelis who, while never seeking glory, were active throughout the struggle. Rabbi Zvi Tau, who orchestrated the team. Eli Sadan, the brilliant ideologue who inspired Avital. And Avi Maoz, Avital’s indefatigable and savvy right hand.
There, too, were the souls of those who made this moment happen but were sadly not present to join in the simcha. Ida Milgrom, Natan’s mother, the woman who never caved in to Soviet brutality and who gave Natan the strength to never give up. And Avital’s brother, Mikhail Stieglitz, a forceful figure for Natan throughout the world, an Israeli army officer who died at too young an age.
Beneath the chupah Natan recalled his wedding to Avital 34 years earlier. It was held in a small room with barely a minyan present. Natan recounted that it had all seemed incomprehensible to him as the rabbi read the blessings and carried out the wedding ceremony, but when the time came to break the glass, it all became clear.
“The dream of immigrating to Israel, building Jerusalem, was our hope,” he explained.
Turning to Rachel and Micha, both just 21 years old, Natan pointed out that in certain ways the struggle today is much greater than the one he and Avital experienced, since the dream of Jerusalem and the responsibility to protect and defend the holy city is more complex.
The wedding took place at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel just before the Shabbat on which we read the refrain that resounded throughout the Soviet Jewry movement: “Shalach et Ami,” “Let My People Go.” The last blessing under the chupah, sung to Shlomo Carlebach’s tender tune, was the Shabbat welcome prayer “Lecha Dodi” — “Come my beloved to greet the bride.”
This time the words of that blessing jumped from the page. The hills of Jerusalem resonated with song, and the countless words describing joy of bride and groom, which at times seem repetitious, all made sense; no words were sufficient to express that happiness.
As we sang, Avital shed tears. Not the tears of sadness she shed when advocating for Natan, tears and resolve that moved the world. Tears of joy and happiness.
And then we danced. First the men and women were separated by a mechitza, but soon Natan and Micha joined Rachel and her sister Chana and Avital and Micha’s parents, and all danced together.
What a far cry from that wedding 34 years ago in Moscow when Natan and Avital were forcefully separated the following day. They would not see each other for another 12 years, including nearly nine that Natan spent in the Gulag.
When they were finally reunited, Natan’s first words to Avital were, “I’m sorry I’m late.” For their children there would be no such separation, no such apologies.
Avital was once asked whether she had ever written to Soviet officials after Natan’s release. She replied that she had sent them pictures of each of the girls after they were born. One wonders if Avital had also sent to any of the tormentors over whom Natan had triumphed an invitation to Rachel’s wedding. For those blessed to be there, the Sharansky wedding was a microcosm of Jewish history. There have been many forces of evil that have bedeviled Am Yisrael, and yet, the good has prevailed.
Off to one side in the wedding hall, confined to a wheelchair, was Yeshayahu Nebenzahl, an accomplished professor in Israel. We danced a bit, total strangers but brothers in joy.
He whispered to me: “When I come to heaven they’ll ask me what have I done in life? I’ll be able to answer, ‘I was at the wedding of Sharansky’s daughter.’”
Rabbi Avi Weiss, national president of the Coalition for Jewish Concerns-Amcha, is senior rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale and founder and president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah rabbinical school.
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Thank you,Avi Weiss,for the wonderful article. Besiman Tov uMazal Tov to Rachel and Micha.Natan and Avital and their families.From "Min Hametzar" to seeing their daughter to the Chupa, in Yerushalayim ! Binyan Bayit Ne'eman Beyisrael,Binyan Adei Ad....The Soviets are gone,the Sharansky family will continue to build Klal Yisrael,Be'ezrat Hashem.We continue to draw strength and Emunah from Natan Sharansky.Hakadosh Baruch Hu delivers on his promises.May we see Mashiach very soon. Will he,too,say "I'm sorry I'm late" ?.......
Esther, I hate to say it but we don't need the Moshiach anymore. Israel already exists so what the Mosh is gonna do, drag unwilling Jews to Israel? Jews needed Moshiach when the Ukrainians and Germans were killing them, but now things are not so bad anymore. If he comes I'll say: go back where you came from, Mosh! ahahaha
If only Sharansky's personal struggles, heroic as they were, had given him deeper compassion for the struggles of others. We have our freedom; but what of those who were made to pay the cost? Sharansky's struggle was for human rights, not just Jewish ones. I cannot but feel terrible disappointment at what has become of his message.
Much mazal tov to Avital and Natan Sharansky. She is as big a hero as he. They acomplished what they did with their never-ending strength and fortitude, and belief in their just cause, something sadly lacking in our governmental leadership today. Sharansky was too good a person and got thrown out of the filthy political system here. Had he remained a political leader, maybe things would look different for us. Had Avital faced Bush in Jerusalem instead of pathetic Olmert, perhaps the world would understand our complicated plight better and there would not be a continuation of "paying for the same goods", of receiving empty promises for tangible assets, all while rockets fall on our cities, kibbutzim and moshavim! I met Avital and her 2 daughters at Cushi Ramon's famous "Stop 101" on the way to Eilat years ago. I told her how she had been an inspiration for me for years: this young brave and daring Jewish soul and Zionist. May she and her family have much nachat (nachas) Shalom- Joan Zia Kahn Metar, Israel
I suggest Sharansky visits Birobidzhan, maybe he could revive his flagging political career there. At least there he could speak his native Russian so people finally could understand him. He could revive the Bund party and run for the local legislature. http://savejewsfund.blogspot.com/
Thank you from depth of heart to Rabbi Weiss for a most moving writeup on the wedding of Rachel and Micha.I was privileged to have helped Avital when she was in Montreal,Canada in her unforgettable struggle to save Natan.May the whole family be blessed with good health and happiness always.The Sharansky family will forever inspire the Jewish people around the world.Kol Hakavod and Mazal Tov to the young couple.
Unfortunately there was a problem and my special congratulatiions to Avi Weiss were unfortunately deleted.I recall very vividly the unforgettable passion and leadership of Avi,Kol Hakavod!
To Lou, What do you know about people who died from germans, you misrable person, did you live there? did you talk to people who went that tarible time. Thay actually wanted Moshiah then and they still want it now because nothing changed except of numbers. We still killed in our holly land. What do you know about people who lost relatives from terarist ataks, mothers who lost kids - solgers in ZaHaL. I have not religious freands who lost in our present war beloved and they want Moshiah now!
LOU, (and Daniel Levine), 2 comments: 1.) Lou, I live in Israel. You obviously don't. (If you do, you must live in Ehud Olmert's neighborhood; "a pretty fun place," not reality.) 2.) Lou, I can present no clearer refutation of your idiotic opinion than the comment that followed yours. Jewish self-hatred is thriving; Daniel Levine obviously feels "deeper compassion" for so-called Arab "suffering" than he does for anything any Jew went through during the Holocaust.
Danny, I'm sure your soft, cozy little cocoon is impervious to facts, but here is this anyway:
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/totten/73851
We desperately need Moshiach now.
LOU, (and Daniel Levine), 2 comments: 1.) Lou, I live in Israel. You obviously don't. (If you do, you must live in Ehud Olmert's neighborhood; "a pretty fun place," not reality.) 2.) Lou, I can present no clearer refutation of your idiotic opinion than the comment that followed yours. Jewish self-hatred is thriving; Daniel Levine obviously feels "deeper compassion" for so-called Arab "suffering" than he does for anything any Jew went through during the Holocaust.
Danny, I'm sure your soft, cozy little cocoon is impervious to facts, but here is this anyway:
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/totten/73851
We desperately need Moshiach now.
LOU, (and Daniel Levine), 2 comments: 1.) Lou, I live in Israel. You obviously don't. (If you do, you must live in Ehud Olmert's neighborhood; "a pretty fun place," not reality.) 2.) Lou, I can present no clearer refutation of your idiotic opinion than the comment that followed yours. Jewish self-hatred is thriving; Daniel Levine obviously feels "deeper compassion" for so-called Arab "suffering" than he does for anything any Jew went through during the Holocaust.
Danny, I'm sure your soft, cozy little cocoon is impervious to facts, but here is this anyway:
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/totten/73851
We desperately need Moshiach now.