Marrying the Chief Rabbi's grandson

Marrying the Chief Rabbi's grandson

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Ultra-Orthodox Jewish bride Hannah Batya Penet dances with a relative during her wedding ceremony.

Some 25,000 people gathered in the Kiryat Belz neighbourhood of Jerusalem to celebrate the marriage of Penet to Shalom Rokeach. Rokeach is the eldest grandson of the Chief Rabbi of Belz, Yissachar Dov Rokeach.

. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men attend the wedding of Rokeach and his bride.

The Belz Hasidic dynasty is one of the largest Hasidic movements in the world. Thousands of members of the sect travelled from the United States and Europe to attended the celebrations, according to local media.

“One million plastic cups” bragged one of the ultra-Orthodox men who I was squeezed next to
Ronen Zvulun, Reuters Photographer

Coming home at sunrise, I was just starting to digest the grand event - the wedding of the grandson of one of the most influential spiritual leaders in Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community. The ceremony, attended by some 25,000 people, ran like a military operation.

How do you take care of thousands of people; feed them, accommodate them, seat them and ensure the safety of the huge crowd? There was a 20-storey stand that needed to hold thousands of dancing Hasidic men.

“One million plastic cups” bragged one of the ultra-Orthodox men who I was squeezed next to.

A team responsible for managing the event ran around, communicating through radio headsets. A control room overlooked the venue and a production company was responsible for the live coverage of the celebration. Large screens were placed throughout the neighbourhood, giving people who couldn’t make it into the venue the chance to witness the wedding.

The female guests sat some two kilometres away from the men in a separate hall, where they followed the men’s celebrations on large screens.

About 50 percent of prime time television in Israel is taken up by reality television programmes. Members of the Hasidic community are often isolated from the secular society and do not watch popular television shows. This celebration, which drew large numbers from their homes, was like the Hassidic community’s prime time viewing. It can be thought of as a kind of “reality show” within the Hasidic community.

The massive turnout from various sects of the ultra-Orthodox community who came to show their respect for the legacy of the Belz community and its spiritual leader, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, certainly left its mark on me.

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Slideshow

Attendants lead Shalom Rokeach (centre) during his wedding.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Attendants lead Shalom Rokeach (centre) during his wedding.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women walk with the bride.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women walk with the bride.

A guest uses a pair of binoculars to get a better view of the proceedings.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

A guest uses a pair of binoculars to get a better view of the proceedings.

Hannah Batya Penet, 19, stands next to her groom, Shalom Rokeach (centre), 18, during their wedding.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Hannah Batya Penet, 19, stands next to her groom, Shalom Rokeach (centre), 18, during their wedding.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys watch preparations for the nuptials.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys watch preparations for the nuptials.

Rokeach (2nd left) dances with a relative, as Penet (centre) watches, during the ceremony.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Rokeach (2nd left) dances with a relative, as Penet (centre) watches, during the ceremony.

The bride sits with relatives during her wedding.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

The bride sits with relatives during her wedding.

Penet, wearing an embroidered veil, looks on during the ceremony.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Penet, wearing an embroidered veil, looks on during the ceremony.

The bride dances with a relative, as guests look on.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

The bride dances with a relative, as guests look on.

The wedding lasted until the early hours of the morning.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

The wedding lasted until the early hours of the morning.

The bride gathers her dress after dancing.
. JERUSALEM. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

The bride gathers her dress after dancing.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men attend the nuptials.
. JERUSALEM, Israel. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men attend the nuptials.