18 November 2019

A couple from The Liberal Synagogue Elstree (TLSE) have got married under a chuppah – 61 years after their original civil wedding ceremony.

Jack and Mina Kossoff wed at TLSE with children from the religion school making the decorations for the day.

The nuptials came about after Mina converted to Judaism. Although she had lived a Jewish life for seven decades, she had never formally joined the faith.

The synagogue’s Rabbi Pete Tobias said: “When Jack walked to our synagogue from the home that he shares with his wife of 61 years, Mina, he explained that his wife really wanted to be married under a chuppah. Just one problem: she wasn’t Jewish, even though she’d lived a Jewish life for over 70 of her 90 years.

“A quickly organised Liberal Judaism Beit Din at TLSE confirmed Mina’s status and they were married a few months later, on a Sunday morning, with the children of the religion school present. The children decorated the chuppah and made cards and cakes for the happy couple!”

Jack added: “We had been thinking for a long time about how to renew our vows under a chuppah in a synagogue.

“We are delighted that The Liberal Synagogue Elstree and Liberal Judaism made it so easy, and so special, for us. The ceremony was a very happy event and the whole day was wonderful. We were also blessed to have the young children from the synagogue at our ceremony, which made it even more beautiful.”