Earlier this week we hosted a small and beautiful wedding at the Chabad Center of Sudbury. The Chuppah took place on the deck and the rain held off so that everyone could enjoy this ceremony in the beautiful setting full of nature, greenery and clouds.
As I prepared for the Chuppah and refreshed my readings, knowledge, Jewish teachings related to marriage, I also did some reading on the tradition of Breaking the Glass under the Chuppah, and I discovered something beautiful which I had not yet seen previously.
One of the commentaries pointed out how it is the moment after the breaking of the glass, which is when everyone shouts Mazal Tov and the joy following the Chuppah begins.
For something like the breaking of the glass, which mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and reminds us that although we are celebrating with this young couple today, no joy is complete while there is still so much hardship of the exile, it is almost surreal to then shout a joyous Mazal Tov right after the smash of the glass.
The commentaries pointed out that there is another message here, and that is that at times in a relationship, there are moments of crisis, broken moments, moments of smashed glass and shattering of prior elements of the relationship. It is those moments that sometimes make people feel, we are damaged goods, it is too late, we are shattered. Yet in reality, those moments of brokenness can give birth to a deeper connection, healing and closeness when responded to in the right way.
In a way, it is the moments of brokenness which can also become the trigger for taking the relationship to a much deeper and joyous place.
It is for this reason that we collectively wish Mazal Tov after the broken glass, in recognition of the fact that this relationship, and indeed the pain of the exile which we are marking in this act, will ultimately be the tools we use to bring a much greater joy and blessing to the relationship and to the world around us.
The wedding was celebrated on the eve of the 15th of Av, the Jewish holiday of love and joy, which comes on the heels of the 9th of Av, a day which is marked by so much pain. Indeed the wedding took place on a day which represents the joy after pain, the growth after challenges, and happiness after sadness.
May we merit to see the complete rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Beit Hamikdash speedily in our days.
Shabbat Shalom & Mazal Tov to Hadar & Yael the wonderful young couple!
Yisroel