“Both of us are Jewish from the ‘wrong’ side,” said Ms. Vilenchik, 25, meaning their fathers are Jewish but not their mothers. The couple rewrote their seven blessings “to be more secular, without God, God, God all the time,” Ms. Vilenchik said. Ms. Vilenchik chose not to because she was in heels. Pola Barkan, 28, director of the Cultural Brigade, a group that promotes Russian culture in Israel, married Mark Barkan, 29, in an Orthodox Rabbinate ceremony. Still, Ms. Barkan insisted on adding an eighth blessing, praying for all her friends to be able to marry without exception or exclusion.

Source: New York Times August 19, 2018 23:12 UTC