Hundreds of women gathered for a festive dinner benefiting Adei Ad – L’Chaim V’Livracha, an organization that supports kallahs prepare for their weddings, while also running initiatives to assist older singles in finding their shidduch.

Held under the theme “Kol Kallah,” the evening highlighted the organization’s work accompanying women at both ends of the shidduch journey: helping today’s kallahs begin married life with dignity and easing the path for those still waiting to become “tomorrow’s kallahs.”

The program opened with guest of honor MK Limor Son Har-Melech, deputy speaker of Israel’s Knesset and chair of its caucus for religious and chareidi women. She spoke warmly about the scope of Adei Ad’s work and its impact on both present and future kallahs.

Mashpia Rabbi Meni Roth delivered an address centered around the evening’s theme of “voices,” beginning with the Divine voice at Matan Torah and continuing with the special zechus of bringing joy to a chosson and kallah. He also noted that the Hebrew word kol, voice, has the same numerical value as mamon, money, connecting the theme with the power of tzedakah.

A live orchestra accompanied the evening, with mother and daughter Ayelet Akiviov and Mushka Levi providing vocals and artistic presentation. The program took participants on a journey through the different stages leading to the chuppah.

The first part focused on the practical needs facing a new kallah and her family. Devorah Zigman, whose oldest daughter is currently a kallah, met with Feigy Borgen, an experienced mother who has already married off children, for a candid conversation about the opportunities, challenges and emotions of the wedding period.

From there, they visited Beis Adei Ad, where kallahs and their mothers can select a substantial package of household necessities to help furnish and equip the new home.

The evening also introduced a significant new initiative: subsidized furniture for every kallah. Through a partnership with a furniture retailer, Adei Ad is offering a package containing the basic furniture needed by a young couple at a substantially reduced price, further easing the financial burden on families making a wedding.

The program then shifted from the “kallah of today” to the “kallah of tomorrow.”

Through an elaborate stage presentation incorporating live violin music, professional dance and multimedia, participants heard the remarkable story of Ruti, a young woman raised in a Litvish home whose life eventually brought her all the way to Seoul, South Korea.

It was there, far from home, that she encountered Chabad through Hashgacha Protis. A shlucha began learning Tanya with her, and Ruti found that Chassidus spoke to something she had long been searching for.

After returning to Eretz Yisroel, she connected with Mrs. Chani Lemberg and Mrs. Chani Wilshansky of Haifa, continuing to learn Chassidus and deepen her connection to the Rebbe’s path.

But as the years passed and she remained single, loneliness became an increasingly difficult part of her life. Mrs. Lemberg eventually introduced her to L’Chaim V’Livracha, where she found not only efforts to help her find a shidduch, but a community of women going through the same experience.

The organization provides gatherings, farbrengens, activities and getaways for older single women, while working simultaneously with shadchanim and the wider Chabad community to encourage people to suggest and actively pursue shidduchim.

Additional interviews featured Mrs. Racheli Cohen and Mrs. Devorah Leah Betzalel (Batashvili), who described how the support they received through L’Chaim V’Livracha accompanied them until they ultimately established homes of their own.

Mrs. Betzalel and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Dina Betzalel, also shared how her shidduch grew out of the organization’s “Ichpat Li B’Shidduchei Chabad” initiative, which encourages members of the community to take personal responsibility for suggesting shidduchim.

Another division, Yad B’Yad L’Adei Ad, led by Mrs. Malki Rothstein and Mrs. Malki Niazov, provides professional guidance and assistance in more complex shidduch situations.

L’Chaim V’Livracha has continued to expand into new areas as well, including a new initiative called “Lirot Et Hanolad,” which accompanies women facing a complicated journey toward becoming mothers.

Mrs. Bracha Tvardovitz, chairwoman of Adei Ad – L’Chaim V’Livracha, addressed the gathering and thanked the donors, partners and volunteers whose support makes the organization’s work possible. She singled out Adei Ad volunteers led by Mrs. Meira Aharon and Mrs. Henny Chazan, as well as the L’Chaim V’Livracha volunteers led by Mrs. Nechama Amitai and Mrs. Feigy Burkis.

Fundraising was a central part of the evening, led by campaign director Mrs. Chani Goldberg together with Mrs. Chani Malka, with Rebbetzin Rachel Hendel offering a bracha to the donors.

Organizers emphasized that while many Adei Ad programs are designed as communal benefits available broadly to kallahs and their families, the organization also maintains a special tzedakah program for kallahs in financial need. These brides receive an expanded assistance package that includes additional household help, a cash grant and a subsidy covering approximately half the cost of a sheitel, with plans underway to further expand the assistance.

Mrs. Ruti Rachamim shared a personal story about the brachos she experienced after taking part in an Adei Ad fundraising campaign three years ago. Pushing herself “lechatchila ariber,” she raised funds on behalf of 12 kallahs, personally sponsoring three of them. In the three years since, she said, she has merited to marry off all four of her daughters.

The evening concluded with a unique playback-theater presentation exploring real-life dilemmas surrounding shidduchim and wedding preparations. The scenarios received both professional and Chassidishe perspectives from coach Zizi Kojman.

Logistical production was directed by Mendel Rachamim, with direction and content production by Mushki Eidelkopf.

Photos by Dovber Hechtman