Jewish Couple Finally Marries After 140 Day Delay Due To Ukraine War (VIDEO/PICTURES)

MOLDOVA (VINnews) — After a 140 day delay due to the war in Ukraine, a Jewish couple was finally able to get married in Moldova this past weekend.

Menachem Zevin and Ayala Shirel were planning on beginning a new chapter in their lives and had planned a large wedding in Kiev on March 8th. But when the war broke out, their plans changed.

Menachem, a doctor was living in New York, while Ayala was living in Ukraine. At the beginning of the war, Ayala fled to Moldova and tried to join Menachem in New York, but the U.S. authorities denied her request for a visa.

Finally, after months of waiting, many members of the Jewish community of Kishinev wiped away tears as they were finally able to attend the wedding of Rabbi Menachem and Ayala. The beautiful chuppah ceremony was officiated by Rabbi Mendel Axelrod, Chief Rabbi of Kishinev.

Over the past four months, the Jewish community in Kishinev has welcomed Ayala with open arms, so it was important to her to get married in Kishinev. The Chabad community, headed by Rabbi Zushe Abelsky, took care of all the arrangements. This past weekend, Menachem and Ayala were married in the Bristol hotel in Kishinev surrounded by their family, the Kishinev community and other war refugees who have become a second family to Ayala over the past four months.

Rebbetzin Chaya Zalmanov, a Chabad Shlucha in Moldova who has become very close with Ayala over these past four months, noted that “we may not be related by blood, but we’re one big family. Mazel Tov to Menachem and Ayala!”