JUNE 24 • 2021 | 53
Their rabbi, Arianna
Silverman of Detroit’s Isaac
Agree Downtown Synagogue,
convinced them to do some
of the Jewish ceremony now
as well, including the sign-
ing of the ketubah (marriage
contract) and the exchange of
rings. Van’t Hof is wearing a
simple gold diamond engage-
ment ring and wedding band
that belonged to her maternal
grandmother, Myra Zwiep,
who died a few months ago.
One of Ms. Zwiep’s scarves
was used as an impromptu
chuppah.
Rabbi Silverman explained
that earlier in Jewish history
the two parts of the wedding
ceremony — kiddushin, or
engagement, which includes
the reading and signing of the
ketubah and the exchange of
rings, and nisuin, or sanctifica-
tion, which includes the Sheva
Brachot (Seven Blessings),
drinking wine and the break-
ing of a glass — were often
separated, sometimes by many
years.
Lewis and Van’t Hof sched-
uled the event for Friday,
June 11, which is the First of
Tammuz on the Jewish calen-
dar, a propitious date for nup-
tials. They will complete the
Jewish rites in 2023.
Because the ketubah needed
to be signed by two unrelated
witnesses, their guest list grew
with the addition of friends
and their significant others.
In all, 16 people were present,
along with Lefty Frizzell, the
couple’s dog.
The short ceremony was fol-
lowed by a celebratory vegan
lunch.
TOP: The
wedding
proposal from
Grace Van’t
Hof.
RIGHT: Aaron
Lewis and
Grace Van’t Hof
COURTESY OF THE LEWIS FAMILY
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