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- Unexpectedly
Under The Chuppah

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Marilyn and Mel Rothenberg's surprise vow renewal.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman I Contributing Writer

m

arilyn and Mel Rothenberg
there. Everybody came to that
had a plan for celebrat-
house. They swam in the pool.
ing their 60th wedding
We barbecued every Sunday with
anniversary this past June. The former
friends and relatives and the kids
Detroiters would fly to Michigan from
had parties; boy, did they have
their home in Boca Raton, Fla., and
parties. They used to kick us out
spend the evening at dinner with
of the house and tell us to go
friends and family.
on vacation for two days. Once,
Their kids had a better plan.
we left, but we didn't go out of
They would go to Steven Lelli's on
town. We booked a room at a
the Green in Farmington Hills and be
hotel in Dearborn. Then we drove
joined by more friends and more fam-
up our street and there were like
ily, who would bear witness to a sur-
400 cars parked there!"
prise wedding vow renewal, complete
Their son Marc said, "My
with a chuppah, a rabbi and an
memories of growing up are
artistically created ketubah (Jewish
how everybody was always wel-
marriage contract).
come at our home. On Sundays,
"We knew we were going to din-
my grandparents were at the
ner, but when we came outside on the
house," he said. "And my friends
patio of the restaurant and saw all the
and my brothers' friends could
people, we weren't sure exactly what
walk in any time to visit or even
was going on," Marilyn said. "Then
for dinner. And those values are
we saw our grandchildren — Kari,
now my values. My house is
Ben, Jessica, Shelby, Katie and Jake —
always open."
holding the poles of the chuppah and
Marilyn and Mel, who were
the rabbi with a ketubah in his hand.
both born in Detroit, came from
Then the rabbi asked if we would
homes where family was fore-
renew our vows.
most. "We had a very close-knit
family," Mel said. "What we
"I said, 'Certainly. —
On the outdoor deck of the restau-
learned from our parents we
rant, with a backdrop of trees and
passed on to our kids. We are
golfers, Rabbi Joshua Bennett of Temple
all very close, and we spend a
Israel in West Bloomfield spoke about
lot of time with our children and
marriage and family and the future.
grandchildren; not because they
Rabbi Bennett with Marilyn and Mel Rothenberg during the vow renewal ceremony
"We got married again," Mel said.
are our family but because we
"The rabbi asked, 'Do you take this
enjoy being together. And it goes
tation, marriage license and family photos.
woman to be your wife —again?' I
both ways."
The 35 guests included three who also had
said, 'Of course. —
"My parents are my dearest and closest
"There was not a doubt in our minds," Marilyn attended the Rothenberg's wedding at the
friends, first and foremost," said Marilyn and
Holiday Manor in Detroit on June 4, 1953:
said.
Mel's son Harold. "The relationship we share is
Marilyn's Aunt Marsha Ross, Mel's cousin
Mel said, "We wouldn't change our life
one I share with my children as well.
Seymour Wander and Andi's mom, Bea Vinokour.
together for anything in the world. We feel very
"I learned from them that it is so important
Long before Andi married Marc and became
blessed to have each other."
for your partner to be your very best friend. They
part of the Rothenberg family, their families
are certainly an example of what marriage is;
were connected. "My grandparents and Marc's
Festivities
they have been through so much together and
grandparents were good friends and that's
The celebration was planned by the couple's
they work as a team.
how Marilyn and Mel and my parents became
sons and daughters-in-law, Marc and Andi of
"Both of my kids are beyond close with my
friends," she said. "My aunt on my father's side
West Bloomfield, Harold "Hersh" and Caryn of
parents. I speak to my parents on a daily basis,
was Marilyn's bridesmaid."
Farmington Hills and Howard of Farmington.
and my kids speak to them just as often. They
Andi created a scrapbook of memories for
are incredible grandparents, and we are so fortu-
Family Values
Marilyn and Mel that included a copy of their
nate to have the close relationship we have with
"When our kids were growing up we had the
wedding announcement that ran in the Jewish
them. My kids love being with their grandpar-
'fun house, — Mel said. "There were always kids
News, their original ketubah, their wedding invi-
continued on page C48

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celebrate! I March 2014