Dear Ariel and Sara Techiya,שיחיו

On behalf of the Chabad-Lubavitch worldwide movement and the Shluchim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe זכותו יגן עלינו, I want to join the many, many thousands, among them Chabad representatives from around the world, in wishing you a heartfelt mazel tov! on the occasion of your wedding.

As was so evident at your wedding, this was an unprecedented simcha celebrated by all of Klal Yisrael, a celebration that embodied the idea of שמחה פורצת גדר “joy transcends boundaries” in its fullest measure. Your wedding united the Jewish people across every divide in an outpouring of love, joy and good wishes for both of you and your families.

Your wedding date, 14 Kislev is a special day on the Chabad calendar as it is the same day on which the Lubavitcher Rebbe and his Rebbetzin were married 88 years ago. One of the great themes of the Rebbe’s teachings was never to allow the dark forces in this world to defeat us, but to always find the strength to transform them, to turn evil to good, tragedy to joy.

We cried with you as you grieved over the brutal loss of your beloved father Yaakov and brother Netanel ה׳ ינקום דמם. And then the world watched as you took this enormous tragedy and turned its darkness to light, to joy so great as to embody the promise of Am Yisrael Chai!

We can only imagine the נחת רוח to the neshamot of your dear father and brother at the way you shared your simcha with the entire Jewish people, sparking worldwide unity and a groundswell of joy and Jewish pride. You may never know how far-reaching and enduring the impact of the courage, faith and strength you modeled in your response to this profound loss.

14 Kislev marks the beginning of a life together dedicated to Torah and מעשים טובים. In the words of the Rebbe following so many of the terror attacks against our people, it is through rebuilding and building and moving forward that we find comfort and solace.

Together you will build a home and a life filled with the light and joy of Torah and mitzvot, and goodness and kindness that will bring great comfort to you and your family, illuminate your communities, and be a source of great blessing to all of Am Yisrael.

I am enclosing, as a wedding gift, two dollar bills from among the dollars that the Rebbe left in my possession, which he would famously distribute every Sunday with his holy words of “״ברכה והצלחה. Surely you are thus blessed with all the blessings the Rebbe gave to newlyweds, blessings both spiritual and material in the eternal home, the בית בישראל בנין עדי עד that you will establish together.

Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky

Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters 770 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213