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“Having a gift like this is meaningful
on its own, being the glass Sruly broke
under the chuppah, but the fact that
it’s my aunt’s legacy makes it so much
more than just that. It’s her memory
that I can pass down to my children,
and it will always be alive in our house
because of this mezuzah.”
Terri Trepeck
32802 Franklin Road
248-258-1657
Terri@invitesink.com
www.invitesink.com
Providing personalized service from start to finish
continued from page 32
1979730
CONNECTING PIECES
OF FAMILY HISTORY
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With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.
One coupon per table. Offer expires 4-30-17
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%HQVWHLQ*ULOOH&RPPHUFH7ZS 248-624-4100
Valid M-F. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Limit 1 per table.
Offer expires 4-30-17
Through a remarkable work of art,
Erika and Andy Bocknek were able
to share the gift of time, the gift of
combining family history and the
unexpectedly useful gift of learn-
ing to embroider in preparation for
their October 2006 wedding at the
Roostertail in Detroit.
When their moms, Retta London of
Farmington Hills and Cheryl Bocknek
of West Bloomfield, suggested they,
along with the bride and groom, cre-
ate the chuppah under which the
couple would be married, six months
of work began.
The plan, said Andy, was to incor-
porate “pieces of each of our mothers’
wedding dresses and buttons from
a dress my maternal grandmother,
Edith Lax, wore when she and my
grandfather, Harold Lax, renewed
their vows for their 50th anniversary.”
Erika and Andy’s part involved
embroidery. “Neither Erika nor I
knew how to embroider,” said Andy of
Farmington Hills. “We were frequently
at Rachel’s Needlepoint in Southfield
for instructions.”
Each of the moms needlepointed
two of the chuppah’s panels, and Erika
and Andy worked together on one.
“Given that the chuppah symbolizes
the home we would build together, it
was only natural to include our fam-
ily, as our families are so important
to us,” Andy said. “To see the pieces of
multiple generations stitched together
was beyond moving.”
Added Erika, “The gift our mothers
gave is so generous.”
Hoping her children continue the
tradition of being married under the
chuppah created with fabric and
accessories of the treasured dresses,
she said, “One day I’ll add mine and
our new machatunim’s [parents of
child’s spouse] if they want.”
COMPLETE SHABBAT TABLE
The plan was for former Detroiters
Miriam and Dov Gardin to receive
Shabbat candlesticks for their wed-
ding. Trouble was, the plan came
from both Miriam’s aunt and Dov’s
grandmother. During the time the two
were engaged, Miriam’s Aunt Chana
Leiman of Brooklyn, told her she had
planned to give the couple the silver
candlesticks of Miriam’s late grand-
mother, Betty Lewis.
C34
celebrate! • 2017
jn
“Coincidentally, my husband’s
grandmother, Tauby Lewis [no rela-
tion, but another coincidence] also
wanted to give us candlesticks for a
wedding gift,” said Miriam, who mar-
ried Dov in June 2006 in Herzliyah,
Israel.
“Because I already had candlesticks
coming to me, instead she gave us a
check to buy Shabbat items. We load-
ed up on a challah board, a lovely set
of painted shot glasses on a tray that
we use for kiddush at Shabbat lunch, a
decanter, and a crystal salt and pepper
shaker set.”
The candlesticks are used each
Friday evening.
“Using them connects me to both
of my grandparents: my grandmother
who passed away before I was born
— and who I only know from pictures
and stories and can only imagine
lighting them — and my grandfather
who often came to visit with spec-
tacular gifts — costume jewelry, cut
glass bowls, unique trinkets — from
his days as a ‘junk’ shop owner,” said
Miriam, who lives in West Orange, N.J.
“Our eldest daughter is named for
both of my grandparents, so lighting
the candles with her alongside me
and her younger sister in my arms
is a moment when we reflect on the
week that has passed and connect to
the history extending far beyond that
week — to my grandparents and to
our ancestry further beyond.”
L’CHAIM!
One of Andi Rothenberg’s most mean-
ingful wedding gifts isn’t even one of
her own, but rather one that was given
to her in-laws, Marilyn and Mel.
“We received a beautiful set of
cocktail and wine glasses from Bea
Vinokour and her former husband,
Jerry Swaab, whose parents were best
friends with my parents,” Marilyn
Rothenberg remembered.
Added Mel, “To our amazement,
some 30 years later, our son Marc
brought home the girl he planned to
marry — who happened to be Bea and
Jerry’s daughter, Andi!”
Marilyn and Mel’s marriage has
far-outlasted the 12 monogrammed
wine glasses received at their June
1953 wedding at the Holiday Manor in
Detroit, but the accompanying dozen
cocktail glasses with the initials,
‘MRM’ across the front of each one
have survived and are filled regularly.
“My parents never could have imag-
ined when they gave those glasses,
that more than 60 years later their
own daughter and grandchildren
would be drinking out of them,” said
Andi, who lives in West Bloomfield.
Added Mel, “When we use them, we
always remember who gave them to
us — and we think it’s amazing.” *