As the Israeli marriage industry remains closed due to the strict restrictions of COVID-19, it is surprising that ultra-rectangular couples choose to fly to the United Arab Emirates, which has recently established normal ties with the Jewish state and has health that is far more forgiving.
Public events in Israel are limited to 20 participants in open fields and 10 in restricted areas, which has made it difficult for many couples to hold marriage ceremonies, especially in the religious and ultra-right sector. square which is usually with much larger families.
Local greetings and bride at ultra-Orthodox wedding in Dubai
(Photo: Avi Fein Chen)
Under Jewish law, it is important to hold the event on the scheduled date at almost no cost and reducing the guest list to just 20 participants may look like work. almost impossible for the religious public.
Sheli Scheinfeld and Shimon Pisakov, an ultra-orthodox couple involved, are among many who moved the happiest day of their lives from Israel to the Gulf state.
“We have 200 guests on an area of 1,500 square meters (16,145 square feet), so this is a great solution,” Scheinfeld told the Ynet studio in an interview. “In Israel, you can only accommodate 20 people. to be at a wedding, and it’s very important to have loved ones by our side. “
Sheli Scheinfeld and Shimon Pisakov
“We started telling people this about two months ago as a joke, that we are getting married in Dubai, but over time, we realized that it was the perfect solution,” said Pisakov. .
Event organizer Avi Fine Chen of Gaya Tours said demand was high and he expected more dozens of “kosher” weddings to take place in the UAE in the coming months.
The first ultra-rectangular Jewish wedding in Dubai, earlier in December
The event took place at the Park Hyatt Hotel Dubai and was attended by around 150 people. About half of the guests came from Israel and other countries, with the rest of the attendees being strange tourists, who had nothing to do with the bride or groom.
Fein Chen was also behind this incident and said it lasted for ten hours and caught the attention of curious locals, some of whom came to watch the event, wearing traditional Arab costumes.