China – Shanghai Shidduch Results in Historic Wedding

Source: VosIzNeias.com

Possibly the first Chasidic wedding in China since World War II took place today at the Marriot in Shanghai as a New York businessman married a Belgian employee of a high tech company.

Ari Lauber of Brooklyn’s Ner Mitzvah has been living in Shanghai for approximately seven years and is known for his tremendous hachnasas orchim, feeding guests, making cholent and helping travelers to the area as he manages Ner Mitzvah’s interests in China. Reizy Weingarten of Antwerp moved to Shanghai for business five years ago but it was a traveler from Boro Park who suggested what should have been the obvious shidduch to Lauber, saying “If the two of you are the only heimishe yidden who live here, maybe it is a basherte shidduch?”

And indeed it was. Approximately 150 guests from various locations including New York, Skver, Antwerp, Israel and England flew to China joining 200 members of the Shanghai community for this landmark event. The wedding was catered by R’ Shulem Greenberg of Chabad, with R’ Akiva Asher Padwa head of the London Beis Din and a frequent guest of Lauber’s serving as Mesader Kiddushin.

Entertainer Lipa Schmeltzer was flown to Shanghai for the wedding as a gesture of hakaras hatov by a group of businessman who have enjoyed Lauber’s hospitality over the years. Schmeltzer was one of only six people who managed to get onto a Continental flight out of Newark when his flight was cancelled due to the blizzard.

“A heimishe wedding in Shanghai. It is just gevaldik,” said Schmeltzer in an exclusive interview with VIN News. “They are the only heimishe people here besides the shluchim. They both had to move to China to find a shidduch.”

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When Wedding Meets Blizzard

Although many simchas were postponed in the way of the massive end-of-year blizzard of 2010, a lot of families stayed the course with their plans for simchas scheduled for Sunday night, the first night of the storm. In the hopes of beating the blizzard, guest attendance was quite good, although many of the invited did head home early. For many who did stay till the end, the wedding hall turned out to be overnight accommodations.

Guests sleeping on the floor at Ateres Chaya Sunday night. (Photo: YiddishNews)

In Ateres Chaya in Boropark almost thirty people had to spend the night. A similar story in Ateres Avrohom in Williamsburg. After another wedding – of Moshe Shapiro and Jenny Cooper – held at the Rockwood Park Jewish Center in queens, the chosson’s parents, who flew in from Israel for the wedding, ended up staying the night after their rental car got stuck in the snow as they were leaving. Fortunately for them the hall had some mattresses left over from a student shabbatton held in the same building.

For those guests that did drive back home, the ride was an adventure, albeit a dangerous one. Visibility on the road was next to nil, the windshield wipers would get clogged with clumps of snow every few minutes, and cars and buses would get stuck numerous times on the way. Thankfully, eventually everyone got home safe with a fun story to share.

Here’s another snow storm snapshot that will make you smile. This one courtesy of MahNishmah.com. (Unfortunately, this couple’s relationship is sure to be a short one.)

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Simcha Expo 2010 | Inwood, Long Island

This year’s Simcha Expo, which took place Sunday November 21 at the Inwood Country Club, was an event that combined business with pleasure with Tzedakah. By business we mean that families planning a simcha had a chance to meet up with up with caterers, simcha planners, photographers, jewelers, and many other simcha service providers. For pleasure, visitors were able to taste appetizing refreshments from caterers, such as Elite Caterers of Lawrence, samples of sweetness from the Cakery and the Biscotti Factory. There was also a music performance by Shua Kessin with BenShimon Music as well a cooking presentation by Susie Fishbein. And finally for tzedakah, guests were able to participate in a ‘chinese auction’ for the benefit of the Be’er Miriam Tziporah Hachnosas Kallah Fund.

Pictured Above:
Inwood Country Club where the expo was held.
Table layout by Silver Spoon NY
Albums by Hello Video
Girls in Gowns by Chaya Breuer
Wedding Cake and minis by The Cakery, Suri Messner
Ahron Frank Orchestra
Susie Fishbein

If you went to the show, feel free to leave us a comment about your impressions.

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Cyber Monday Pickens

From ‘Black Friday’ to ‘Cyber Monday’ to ‘oops! my credit cards are maxed out Tuesday’, it’s shopping week here in the US. Sales are everywhere and the already over extended shoppers are being tempted by newer offers and new shopping opportunities. Here are some very basic household items at very reasonable prices.

Kitchen

Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer -$49 at Walmart – Online Only

Tramontina 6.5 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven – $33 at Walmart; Online Only

Crock-Pot Slow Cooker – 5.5 qt – $15 at Target

Basic Essentials 25 pc. Cutlery Set – $19.99 plus 10% off at checkout; Sears

Cuisinart Contour 13-Piece Stainless-Steel Cookware Set- Orig. $540 Sale: $170 at Chef’s Catalog

Bed & Bath

Pleated Square White Down Comforter – $39.00 – $59.00 at Walmart; Online Only

10 Piece Towel Set – $20 – 11 colors avail. at Walmart;

Cachet Reversible Comforter, Bed Skirt, and Shams Set – $62.99 at Designer Linens Outlet

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Black Friday Finds | 2010

Besides all the direct wedding expenses that a family incurs while planning this wonderful yet budget-heavy event, there are so many more items that are on the long list of ‘To Buy’ – kitchen gear for the new couple, living room things, bedding, and whatever else that’s needed for their new home, not to mention the gifts – gifts for the new family, gifts for the out of town guests, and on and on. Those that are in the wedding parsha during this time of year can grab a few bargains by riding the Black Friday wave. For us shomer shabbos folks, a Friday is not the best day to spend running around shopping malls looking to save a few dollars, that’s why they created online shopping. And just in case you didn’t get your shopping fill over the weekend, they came up with another day when you can spend your money – Cyber Monday.

We collected some Black Friday sale items and coupon codes that might be of interest to you. (Cyber Monday deals still to come.) The images below are clickable. Please note that the discounted prices may only be visible on some websites only after the onset of the website’s Black Friday Sale.

Kitchen Gear
{Free shipping is available almost everywhere during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, lookout for free shipping announcements on the website.}