A Very Special Ramah New England Wedding

by Howard Blas, Tikvah Director, Camp Ramah in New England

August 2009

Dave Kieval and Emily Sowalsky met as staff members in the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England. Dave and Emily worked in the program for many years and in each served in many different capacities: both served as counselors and rashei edah, Dave was an inclusion specialist and Emily was a Vocational Program advisor. Dave and Emily’s love for the very special members of the Tikvah community has been evident in so many of their actions: they speak with campers during the year, visit campers in their homes, and included them in their wedding.

When Dave and Emily announced their June 21st (2009) wedding at Temple Reyim in Newton, MA, it was only natural that four very special friends from Tikvah would be part or the wedding party. Sammy Eberhart, Sam Busis, Jacob Yellin and Marie Strazzulla, were invited to march in to the beit Knesset, each carrying a chuppah pole. All eyes were on the four special friends, who carefully escorted the chuppah to bimah, as it awaited the arrival of the chatan and kallah.

The four friends, impeccably dressed in suits and ties and dresses, then joined the two hundred plus guests in the mitzvah of “misameach chatan v’kallah”—dancing, doing shtick, and making the wedding day a truly memorable one. In the guide prepared for wedding guests, Dave and Emily explained how the chuppah symbolized their first home, which would be a home of inclusiveness.

The bride and groom enjoyed a week of sheva brachot. Perhaps the most special was hosted by their friends at Camp Ramah in New England. Dave and Emily, family, friends, and the entire Tikvah Program dined together in our ohel. We then moved to the chadar ochel where one of Dave’s best friend, rabbinical student, Gabe Greenberg (a long time New England camper and staffer) explained the significance of sheva brachot and led the camp in a proper sheva brachot.

The festivities continued as Dave and Emily joined Tikvah for peulat erev, which consisted of singing and simcha dancing. Friends joined in the staff lounge for even more celebration.

We in the Ramah New England community are proud of Dave and Emily and know they will continue to open their homes and hearts to members of the Tikvah community. We hope to share many more smachot together!

Dave and Emily’s love for the very special members of the Tikvah community has been evident in so many of their actions: they speak with campers during the year, visit campers in their homes, and included them in their wedding.

-- Howard Blas, Tikvah Director,

Camp Ramah in New England