‘Travelling Rabbi’ makes dream weddings a reality

  

ROB AND TAMI SUSSMAN - MAZAL TOV

An island beach at sunset, the foot of a mountain range, a railway platform and a cave may be romantic places to visit. But, in the space of the past few weeks, “Travelling Rabbi” Moshe Silberhaft took the notion of romance one step further by arranging for three couples to actually tie the knot at these venues.

Board of Deputies country communities and African Jewish Congress spiritual leader, Rabbi Silberhaft,  “discovers” these exotic places in the course of his travels and, translating his visions in reality, organises the chuppah, officiates at the ceremony, finds  kosher witnesses, kosher caterers and everything that combines a dream wedding with Jewish Halachic requirements.

“Thank you so much for the best wedding that anyone could wish for. Everything you recommended was amazing. You are just the best,” wrote Tami Sussman (formerly Milwidsky) to Rabbi Silberhaft. Tami married Rob Sussman at the Sugar Beach Resort, Mauritius, accompanied by close family and friends. 

Both the bride and groom hail from Cape Town. A tropical island style feast – strictly kosher – was prepared for guests, who wined and dined on the beach in the light of the setting sun.

Former South Africans Joel Berman (son of renowned boxing promoter Rodney Berman) and Auryn Buchman returned here to get married as they felt Las Vegas, their home, was a “concrete jungle”. They wanted their wedding to be one to remember, surrounded by the scenic beauty of mountains and sea. And so the “Romantic Rabbi” came up with the answer – the splendour of the Twelve Apostles, at the foot of this mountain range.

Rabbi Silberhaft was assisted by Cantor Ivor Joffe, of the Green and Sea Point Hebrew Congregation, and accompanied by soloist David Gordon.

Perhaps the most novel of the three weddings was in Kaaiman’s Grotto – a cave in The Wilderness. The invitation to the marriage of Graham Barnett and Janine Ressel was a train ticket to be presented to the station master at Track 29, Wilderness Station, as the only access to the cave is by train.

The chuppah took place on the railway platform overlooking the sea and the reception was in the adjacent grotto. Rabbi Silberhaft was assisted by Cantor Ezra Altshuler. Kosher catering was by Vanessa Bernstein, of Port Elizabeth and the lighting of Chanukah candles – as it was the eighth day of the festival – added to the ruach of the simcha.

Rabbi Silberhaft has truly devised a unique concept in weddings. However, he doesn’t merely officiate, he arranges virtually everything.