The wedding of Yehuda Zaltzman of Toronto and Mushka Rubashkin of Monsey took place at Razag Hall Thursday. COLlive broadcast the Chuppah to protest the Kallah's father Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin denied attendance.

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Levi Percia

Family and friends packed the courtyard of 770 Eastern Parkway on Thursday night to celebrate the wedding of young chassidic couple Yehuda Zaltzman and Mushka Rubashkin.

Absent was the father of the kallah, R' Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, the former kosher meat executive and founder of the Jewish community in Postville, Iowa, who is imprisoned on charges of bank fraud.

As reported, Rubashkin was denied release for the simcha. In an email to COLlive the night before the wedding, the father of 10 asked the Chabad community and supporters of his plight to attend and fill "the place that is left empty."

With the request of the family, COLlive in cooperation with SimchaLive.com provided a live broadcast of the chuppah where Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, member of the Crown Heights Bais Din, was mesader kiddushin.

Walking the chosson was his father Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak Zaltzman, Director of the Jewish Russian Community Center of Toronto in Canada and the kallah's grandfather R' Avrohom Aaron Rubashkin of Boro Park, NY.

Walking the kallah was her mother Mrs. Leah Rubashkin, today of Monsey, NY, and the chosson's mother Mrs. Chiena Zaltzman, a Shlucha in Toronto.

Honored with reciting the brachos under the chuppah were members of the committee campaigning for Rubashkin's release: Rabbi Sholom Ber Hecht, Rabbi Pinchos Lipshutz and Rabbi Lipa Brennan.

Also honored was Rabbi Leibel Groner, Mazkir of the Rebbe, as well as Rabbi Avremel Blesofsky, Director of Lubavitch of Iowa City.

Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin joined the occasion via phone. Many were deeply moved when he offered his blessings heard over speaker-phone through the sound system.

The wedding meal was held at the Razag hall and the joyous dancing was led by musician Choni Milecki and singer Eli Marcus.