JUNE 27 • 2024 | 17

wasn’t the right time,
” he said.
For New Year’s, the couple 
went to Cleveland and attended 
a comedy show, which David 
thought might be a good back-
up plan.
“But they didn’t have a table 
for us and sat us at a bar that 
was super low, as low as our 
knees, which was so uncomfort-
able, and that moment didn’t 
seem right either!” David said.
The next night, they were 
seated at a back corner in a 
Turkish restaurant, the lights 
were dim, the place was quiet, 
the time was ripe. This is the 
perfect moment, David thought. 
He turned to Beth, all ready to 
propose, but she was starving 
and chowing down on the 
bread in the most unromantic 
fashion!
“Can you just put that bread 
down for one minute?” David 
asked her.
“But I’m hungry!” Beth pro-
tested, still oblivious.
Eventually, despite those little 
derailments, the question really 
did get asked and they really did 
get engaged.
Beth and David married in 
October 2008 at Adat Shalom 
Synagogue. David sang Beth a 
song he’
d written and composed 
for her.
Today, the happy couple live 
in Oak Park with their three 
sons — Evan, 11, Jared, 8, and 
Noah, 5. David is a piano teach-
er and pianist; Beth is an editor. 
They are members of Beth 
Shalom and for the past eight 
years, have organized the suc-
cessful Chanu-Con! event.
When reflecting on how they 
met, David said, “I believe it’s 
helpful to know what you really 
want down to the last detail. 
You might be surprised when 
you find exactly what you’re 
looking for.
” 

This column will appear biweekly. If 

you’d like to share your ‘meet-cute’ story, 

please email burstynwithjoy@hotmail.

com.