JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A moment of excitement nearly turned into a disaster at a wedding held last night at the D-City event hall for one of the students of Rabbi Avraham Salem.
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At the peak of the ceremony, when the groom was about to place the ring on the bride’s finger, the ring slipped from his hand, fell to the wooden floor and disappeared into one of the narrow cracks between the floorboards.
Despite initial attempts to retrieve the ring, they were unsuccessful. The groom, family members, and guests were left embarrassed and stunned by the unexpected situation, which interrupted the ceremony at its most critical moment. The crowd held its breath, and the tension in the hall was palpable.
However, the rosh yeshiva, who was officiating the ceremony, quickly found a solution. With characteristic composure, Rabbi Avraham Salim asked everyone to calm down and reminded them of the halachic ruling: “A woman is acquired in three ways, and the first of them is money.”
Without hesitation, the rabbi asked the groom whether he had any cash on him. After the groom took out a 100-shekel bill from his pocket, Rabbi Salim instructed him to recite the standard betrothal declaration: “Behold, you are consecrated to me with this money according to the law of Moses and Israel.”
Thus, the betrothal was completed properly and validly, much to the joy of the couple and the large audience present. The unusual moment became a story that will likely be retold at many future celebrations.
Rabbi Avraham Salim, head of Yeshivat Maor HaTorah and member of the Sephardic Council of Torah Sages, participated last year alongside other senior rabbis in a campaign to support the World Torah Fund, an event that received wide attention in support of Torah scholarship across the Jewish world.
I’m not sure what the big deal is.
I’ve been at a couple weddings where the ring was lost & one of the women gave her ring (publicly declaring the transfer of ownership to the groom) & the wedding continued.
Gemara in Kidushin starts: BeKesef minalan….
Now that’s the eternal question I ask myself every single day. 😀
Is paper (or polymer) currency, which has minimal intrinsic value, valid for.Kedushin? I can see why it would be (the fact that people are willing to exchange goods for it means it has value), but we’re generally Makpid to use something that has value itself, rather than just representing theoretical value. Id be interested in seeing a Halachic analysis on this topic.
I’m confused:
Isn’t the Chosson supposed to empty his pockets and undo any ties (necktie, shoes) before the chupa? Why does he have money in his pocket during the chupa?
Would have been easier if someone transferred possession of a ring to him (like another reader said) or someone else (his father?) give him the money.
Or maybe I’m wrong on all counts?
Sefardim very commonly use money for kidushin,
bkesef zooh
So much drama about nothing.
that would have been news
Many Sefardim traditionally still use a coin.
Isn’t paper b’veeved? Aren’t coins the preferred way?
Pretty sad when our “hero” stories are about Rabbis using common sense.
Its mefurash a mishna: Haisha niknes beshlosha drachim:
beKesef, shtar or biah.
Do not need to give a ring.
Paper currency is really a Shtar Chov, being a governmental promissory note. It is machlokes whether it is kiddushin (Kiddushin 47b), and the halacha is aina mekudeshes. Generally, roshei yeshivos are not poskim.