22 | JULY 20 • 2023 

“Having my Grandpa Aaron’s tallit 
hanging above us was so special,” said 
Jeremy. “It also felt like my bubbie and 
other relatives who are no longer with us 
were watching over us on our special day. 
It was like having a piece of our family’s 
story woven into our own.”
Helayne took great comfort in the 
symbolism that her father’s prayer shawl 
represented. “My father’s tallit reminded 
me of a long, warm hug around the bride 
and groom,” she said.
If a tallit could earn travel points, it 
likely could’ve paid for its next trip when 
it made its way 1,555 miles due north, 
from sunny Florida to Traverse City.
Risa Brickman, youngest daughter of 
Aaron Kraft, and her husband, Bruce, 
joined their son Sam and daughter-in-law 
Becky Tranchell Up North and under the 
Grandpa Aaron-bedecked chuppah for 
the bride and groom’s August 2022 wed-

ding. “It’s a warm and comforting feeling 
knowing that my dad is always there sur-
rounding our children,” Risa said.
“We felt it was important to have a part 
of my grandfather with us,” said the new-
lyweds. “He was such a big part of my life, 
and it felt very special to have his pres-
ence there with us,” added Sam.
I already have some history with Sam. 
I featured his popular Front Street bagel 
shop in Traverse City, Bubbie’s Bagels, in 
a cover story in the Sept. 3, 2022, edition 
of the JN. 
Bubbie, of blessed memory is Esther 
Kraft, Aaron Kraft’s wife, who passed 
away in 2012. The couple were married 
for 56 years. Bubbie Esther’s renowned 
baking prowess was the inspiration for, 
and literally the face of, her grandson’s 
business.
While Grandpa’s tallit played a featured 
role in Sam and Becky’s wedding, Bubbie’s 

Bagels didn’t take second billing. “My son 
Sam provided the bagels and my mother’s 
beloved rugelach at a brunch,” Risa said.
Valerie and Jay Ross’ son, Shane Ross, 
married daughter-in-law Lindsay Johnson 
this past February in Winter Park, 
Florida. The newlyweds said: “Just know-
ing Grandpa Aaron’s tallit was surround-
ing us, made us feel close to him.”
The Kraft tallit’s most recent stop was 
just this past June 10, when Helayne and 
Jeff’s daughter Marissa, married Aron 
Philips, in Callicoon, New York. 
It turned out to be a trifecta of tallitot 
affair, with Grandpa Aaron’s prayer shawl 
aligned side by side atop the chuppah 
with two other of the bride and groom’s 
grandfathers.
“It was perfect to have all their talli-
tot as the ceiling of our chuppah,” said 
Marissa. “When I picture my Grandpa 
Aaron, he’s either in his newsboy hat or in 

continued from page 21
OUR COMMUNITY

Shane Ross and 
Lindsay Johnson 
at their wedding

Marissa Kaplan 
and Aron Philips 
under the chuppah

