Alan and Michael, it is with such
joy that we stand here beneath this Huppah, celebrating your joining
together. It’s a joy, of course, for the
two of you. It’s a joy for your family
and friends and community gathered here today.
It’s a joy for me as your rabbi who loves you both a lot. And I want to add that this moment is also a
very special joy for Adas Israel Congregation, and for all the Jewish
people. This is the first official gay
wedding in the 143-year history of this
congregation! This congregation was
visited by President Ulysses S. Grant at its opening. Golda Meir made an official visit. Yitzhak Rabin had his child’s bar mitzvah
here. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luthor
King jr. came here.
And now to that auspicious list, we can add that Alan and Michael were
married here!
I really mean it: this is a great moment for the Jewish
people. And it's all the sweeter because
of who each of you are. The two of you
are just about the nicest, kindest guys anyone will ever meet. You're not actually standing here because
your only thought is to make a statement.
You're standing here because you're two human beings who love each other
with all their hearts. You're two human
beings who, when you first met, had your very first conversation about kindness
and caring and thoughtfulness and gentleness--and how important it is to each
of you to find those qualities in a life-partner. You're standing here at this moment not
because your intention is to make waves; you're only here because you're
bashert--meant to be--for one another.
And where else to get married, but
in your shul where you daven! Alan,
your Jewish journey has been a lifetime journey of commitment and
faithfulness. Michael, your Jewish
journey has also been one of many years, one that you chose, with love, to
commit your life to.
And so the real reason you're here is your shared yearning for
commitment, for kindness, for faithfulness to each other, to your heritage,
your people. How else can you affirm
that love, that sacredness, that holiness, then in this sacred dwelling space
we call a Huppah right here in shul.
It's very fitting that we celebrate this moment as we begin
Vayikra, the book of Leviticus in the Torah.
As we ended the book of Exodus, the first great Huppah, the Mishkan, the
tent of God's dwelling love, was completed--and it was completed by the loving
hands of all the Israelites--by everyone of all ages, of all walks of life, of
all orientations--everyone had a role in creating that tent of holiness, as you
create that sacred Place of Holiness for each other and for the Jewish people
right here and now.
There's a poignant moment, as the
Mishkan is completed. The clouds of
God's glory descend upon the sacred tent.
And Moses, ever the humble and unassuming man, was afraid to enter the
tent. And so as we begin Leviticus this
week, it opens with the word "Vayikra," which means that God
literally "called" out to Moses, saying in essence, 'Yes Moses, come
into this tent. You are indeed worthy of
being right here, in this most sacred place, together with me in my loving
presence.'
Alan and Michael, at this moment,
we are all beholding two of the kindest, most unassuming men in the world, not
unlike Moses himself. And through all of
our hearts, the voice of God calls to you--Vayikra--in just the same way,
saying: 'Come forward to this Sacred
Place, this Sacred Moment, because indeed you are not only worthy to be here,
but there is no greater goodness, no greater holiness than for our people to
welcome you here to this sacred place of Kiddushin, of sacred matrimony.' And so Alan and Michael, we all truly say
with all our hearts, Bruchim HaBaim, welcome.
Welcome home to your people, your God, and your tradition, and most
importantly, to each other. Today, with so much pride, so much nachas, we
declare your love to be sacred. May your
lifetime of joy together as loving companions continue to be a blessing and an
inspiration to us all for many years to come in happiness and good health.
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