Nov 26, 2015

Bride Finds Joy After Tragedy

Thousands of guests from around the world joined the simcha of Sarah Techiya Litman who lost her father and brother in a terror attack, and Ariel Biegel, as they got married in Israel.

By COLlive reporter

Photos: Mendy Bortunk



Thousands of guests from around the world participated in the wedding of Sarah Techiya Litman who lost her brother and father in an Arab terrorist attack.



The original wedding date, Nov. 17, had to be postponed after Litman's father and 18-year-old brother, Yaakov and Netanel Litman, were murdered by terrorists just days before the wedding while en route to a pre-wedding celebration.



Litman and her husband Ariel Biegel of Israel decided to invite Jews everywhere to join them.



Thousands of guests arrived to celebrate with the couple, most of whom did not know the couple before, coming from as far as Australia and the United States, representing family and friends back home. Chabad centers sponsored tickets for representatives to attend.



To accommodate the crowds, the wedding was relocated to the Jerusalem International Convention Center.



Thousands tuned in on COLlive.com to watch a live broadcast of the wedding as well.



"Don't let our enemies rejoice. We have fallen and we have risen," wrote the couple. "With G-d’s help, our wedding will take place next Thursday, 26 November, 14 Kislev, at Binyanei Hauma in Jerusalem. The Jewish nation is invited to rise from the dust and celebrate with us."



The guests included Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau, Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, former Hebron chief rabbi Dov Lior, and the prime minister’s wife, Sarah Netanyahu, arrived to give her support. Popular Chassidic singer Avraham Fried made a surprise appearance and performed joyful wedding songs, The Jerusalem Post reported.



VIDEO: Badeken and Chuppah





VIDEO: Joyous dancing

