By COLlive reporter
A Chabad wedding that was scheduled to be held in Crown Heights on Thursday night was postponed after the chosson was denied entry into the United States.
The wedding of Rafi (Rafael) Cohen of S. Paulo, Brazil and Sarah Procaccia of Crown Heights was meant to take place Thursday night at the Razag Ballroom.
On the way to the wedding, the Chosson landed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), but the U.S. Customs and Border Protection noted that he did not have proper visa documentation and placed him on a flight back to his native country, Brazil.
The family immediately took action and contacted two key people to assist with issuing an urgent visa. In addition, they contacted Mrs. Devorah Benjamin, the wedding planner known for her KSCVK organization.
“I was in middle of a wedding when I got the call on Wednesday,” she told COLlive.com. “The family was going to update the guests about the change and I needed to reschedule the whole event.”
After an effort by a number of individuals, the chosson boarded a plane from Sao Paulo at 10:20pm and traveled back to the U.S. The wedding was held on Friday with the chuppa at 11:45am, uncommon for a Friday, in front of 770 Eastern Parkway.
Benjamin said told the family not to worry about the arrangements. “I’ve been doing this for 22 years,” she says. “It took me about 45 minutes to reschedule the wedding. Everyone was on board.”
Willing to cooperate were: Moshe Shmukler of the Razag Ballroom, musician Fitche Benshimon, photographer Meir Pliskin, Mimulo flower shop, Claudia and Ziva with the make-up, hair stylist Iris Sherman and Union car service for transportation.
“The wedding will be the same – just 18 hours later,” says Benjamin. “Everybody was accommodating. Let me tell you, we have a wonderful community. The chesed that is done in this community is quite a lot.”
This is what is meant by “bsha’ah tova umootzlachas.” It seems the originally planned sha’ah was not THE sha’ah tova – the good and auspicious hour – we always wish for a Jewish wedding to happen. May the changed hour augur well for the chosson, kallah, and may they be zocheh to build a yiddisheh and chassidesheh home as per the Rebbe’s brochos to chassanim and kallahs.
Glad the Kallah was on board too!
The REBE RAIATS CHASSUNE WAS IN FRIDAY 13 of ELUL!!
BS”D
I was there and thought the crowd at the reception was considerable considering the day and time. To # 14 why criticize especially in Elul unless you are one of the well known ledigars who do not work on Friday. The main thing is that the couple have a true Binyan Adei Ad
Although Froday weddings are unusual these days, they were once quite common. Our Rebbeim got married on Fridays, and this was clearly meant to be. I myself was at the wedding, and it was so moving.
However, I must say that qas quite disappointed at the ount of people who showed up considering all the publicity this wedding got.
She sits outside under an umprella just like devorah haneviah sat underneath a palm tree. She must be a gilgul of Devorah Haneviah!
May she have a lot of simcha of her own!!!
I just came back from the wedding, it was spectacular, true Simcha!! thank you Devorah Benjamin and everyone who was involved and took the postponment with grace, yashar koach and best wishes to the chosson and kallah and families. Malka E.
I saw ppl all dressed up this morn walking in direction of rasag!
Well guests too for taking the time erev shabbos to get all dressed up and go to the wedding.
SO happy it worked out , BH!
Mazel tov, may the choson and kallah have a binyan adei ad and no further complications for the rest of their lives!!
Gam zou letova! Everything is achgaha pratiss!
Devora benjamin- nothing phases you!!!!!
Tzadeikes in our time
Keep up the good work!
Behind everything you the one that save the situation!!
While chassunas on Friday are unusual these days, they were once quite frequent. The Frierdiker Rebbe’s chassuna was on a Friday.
It’s wonderful to see the achdus in this community. All the vendors probably lost $$$$ in having to reschedule but money is no object in hachnoset kallah – may they be blessed with revealed good in health, nachas from children/ grandchildren and parnusah.
May the wedding be Beshaa Tova Umutlachas, a binyan adei ad! Have a safe trip, Chosson!
I believe friday weddings are special, didn’t the rebbeim hold chasunahs on erev shabbos?