The basis for their unusual decision was the long-time desire of Efrat to be married in a way that would benefit those whose daily difficulties are the main focus of their lives. Her goal was to have the needy as her guests, and to spend money not for a one-time extravaganza, but in a way that would have a lasting impact. She also wished to encourage others who cannot afford a large wedding to do the same.
Yaffa Goldstein, who wrote up the Efrat and Yossi story in HaTzofeh this past Friday, reports that Efrat was so bent on her dream that it was a major factor in her choice of whom to marry. "I would mention my idea on dates and try to see what their response was," Efrat told Goldstein. "This, and the question of whether the two of us could plan such dreams together, was the most important thing for me... Most of the time the reaction was, 'That's a really great idea, but you're certainly not serious.'"
When she met Yossi Orlian, however - the son of friends of her parents - he responded differently. In fact, he had dreams of his own along similar lines, such as the establishment of a temporary home for the homeless. When they in fact decided to get married, plans for a unique wedding got underway.
"I remember reading a few years ago about a couple from England who got married in a soup kitchen," Efrat said. "They had no family, and the 'regulars' there were their guests. I was captured by the idea... We realized we couldn't do it that way, however, because we have large families, and the soup-kitchen regulars would feel uncomfortable among them... Finally, we decided to look for a kindness organization that doesn't give out daily rations, but rather provides furniture, clothing or the like. In the end, we found the right place" - an organization with an appropriately large hangar that serves as its storehouse.
The couple, and their friends and family, worked hard to turn it into something appropriate for a wedding. They installed air conditioner/heaters, for instance, with the idea that the "hall" could be used in the future for other couples who might not have the means to be wed in a fancy hall.
Not only that, but at the couple's urging, many of the guests brought gifts for the organization. "The organization received more presents than we did," Efrat said with a smile.
Goldstein asked Efrat, who is, not surprisingly, studying social work, if she is not concerned about perpetuating the problem of the needy, instead of finding a fundamental solution to uproot the problem from its core. "This is the main question in social work," Efrat answered, "but in the case of this specific organization, it does not dole out gifts, but rather sells items at much lower prices, helping the families in a rehabilitation process... Our main objective is that this storehouse/wedding hall - and others like it - should not be a shameful place for couples with little means, but rather a place that is known as one where people get married."
Yaffa Goldstein, who wrote up the Efrat and Yossi story in HaTzofeh this past Friday, reports that Efrat was so bent on her dream that it was a major factor in her choice of whom to marry. "I would mention my idea on dates and try to see what their response was," Efrat told Goldstein. "This, and the question of whether the two of us could plan such dreams together, was the most important thing for me... Most of the time the reaction was, 'That's a really great idea, but you're certainly not serious.'"
When she met Yossi Orlian, however - the son of friends of her parents - he responded differently. In fact, he had dreams of his own along similar lines, such as the establishment of a temporary home for the homeless. When they in fact decided to get married, plans for a unique wedding got underway.
"I remember reading a few years ago about a couple from England who got married in a soup kitchen," Efrat said. "They had no family, and the 'regulars' there were their guests. I was captured by the idea... We realized we couldn't do it that way, however, because we have large families, and the soup-kitchen regulars would feel uncomfortable among them... Finally, we decided to look for a kindness organization that doesn't give out daily rations, but rather provides furniture, clothing or the like. In the end, we found the right place" - an organization with an appropriately large hangar that serves as its storehouse.
The couple, and their friends and family, worked hard to turn it into something appropriate for a wedding. They installed air conditioner/heaters, for instance, with the idea that the "hall" could be used in the future for other couples who might not have the means to be wed in a fancy hall.
Not only that, but at the couple's urging, many of the guests brought gifts for the organization. "The organization received more presents than we did," Efrat said with a smile.
Goldstein asked Efrat, who is, not surprisingly, studying social work, if she is not concerned about perpetuating the problem of the needy, instead of finding a fundamental solution to uproot the problem from its core. "This is the main question in social work," Efrat answered, "but in the case of this specific organization, it does not dole out gifts, but rather sells items at much lower prices, helping the families in a rehabilitation process... Our main objective is that this storehouse/wedding hall - and others like it - should not be a shameful place for couples with little means, but rather a place that is known as one where people get married."