FAQs

Question

Are you registered? Where?

Answer

We’ve spent the past two years merging our households, so at the moment we’re pretty well set on household goods. If you’d like to give us something, we would be grateful for any contribution to the funds listed in the Gifts section on this website! A few more details on those: HOME IMPROVEMENT FUND: We adore our 130+ year old South Philly rowhome, but keeping it up takes a lot of work. We’ve already done major repairs, including the electrical system, the roof, the front brick facade, and the HVAC. And there’s more to come! We plan on improving the kitchen (dishwasher, functioning microwave, fixing the slowly-sinking floor), upgrading the bathrooms (fixing the tiling, installing a new shower and a bathtub we can properly lie down in), and in our dreams, adding a functioning fireplace! TRAVEL FUND: We are excited to plan a honeymoon in early 2027 – we’ve been longing to get to Trinidad and Tobago, and this may be the time. Our various art, music, video, writing, and organizing projects also often put us on the road to various parts of New England, Appalachia, the Deep South, and the Midwest. This coming year we’re planning to venture as far as Texas and possibly California, and with any luck, in the next few years we’ll get to Lithuania, Poland, and Mexico. Help us get there! COMBATANTS FOR PEACE: Combatants for Peace is a grassroots organization of Israelis and Palestinians, which started about twenty years ago when combatants on both sides put down their weapons and started working together – to protect residents in danger of losing their homes, to document human rights abuses, to provide opportunities for dialogue and cultural exchange, to offer education in organizing and advocacy, to hold joint demonstrations and memorial ceremonies, and to make theater and art. We both know people connected with Combatants for Peace, and we would be honored to have your help in offering them support.

Question

When do I arrive for the weekend? When do I leave?

Answer

The actual wedding takes place on Sunday, May 31, late morning through late evening. If you’re on a tight schedule, you can plan to arrive anytime Saturday, May 30, and leave anytime Monday, June 1. But if you’ve got the time, and you’d like the full experience, please plan to arrive on Friday evening, May 29, and stay until Tuesday morning, June 2! That way you can join us… • on Saturday morning for the aufruf (explanation below); • on Saturday late afternoon / early evening for a rooftop picnic dinner; • on Saturday later evening for dancing at a local music venue (details TBD); • on Sunday for the actual wedding: pre-ceremony activities starting at 11:30am, the ceremony at 1pm, the historical walking tour from the synagogue to the celebration venue at 3pm, the celebration from 4-10pm, and an after-party to follow; and finally, • on Monday evening for the pub sing and first day of the shiva (explanation below), with possible piano bar showtune singing to follow. See the “Schedule” page for full details.

Question

What time do I arrive at the ceremony?

Answer

If you can only make it to the ceremony in the sanctuary at 1:00pm, please plan to arrive no later than 12:30pm. But we highly recommend coming earlier if you can, because you won’t want to miss the pre-ceremony activities starting at 11:30am: the tisch, the bedeken, and the ketubah signing (explanations below).

Question

What should I wear?

Answer

For the ceremony and celebration: Wear something that feels special! Think about a piece of clothing you’ve been saving for a special occasion, or something you’ve been waiting for the chance to wear – but maybe haven’t been sure exactly the right occasion. A vintage suit or dress? A traditional outfit from your family’s ethnic background? A sparkly jumpsuit with gossamer wings? Go for it! Bright colors, finery, and razzle-dazzle are encouraged! (N.B.: If you plan on attending the historical walking tour in between the ceremony and the celebration, make sure you bring shoes you can be comfortable walking in for about an hour.) For the aufruf / Shabbos service and kiddush lunch on Saturday: This is a religious service at a fairly casual synagogue. Black jeans and a collared shirt / blouse are fine; there will also be people in suits and dresses. For the rooftop picnic on Saturday: Feel free to dress more casually! Jeans and T-shirts are fine, or anything else you'd like to wear. For dancing on Saturday night: “Going-out” glam outfits are encouraged. Think fun and funky cocktail dresses, little black dresses, dressy jumpsuits, dark jackets and slacks, a touch of glitter, a cheeky sequin here and there (if that’s your style). For the pub sing on Monday night: Anything goes!

Question

Can I bring a friend? A date?

Answer

We’re only able to accommodate the people whose names are on the invitation - or more precisely, on the envelope it came in. If it’ll be hard for you to come without bringing another person along, please get in touch with us.

Question

Can I bring kids?

Answer

We’re sorry to say we can’t accommodate kids. Again, if this will make it hard for you to attend, please let us know, and we can help figure out a solution.

Question

Do you have a block of rooms reserved at a hotel?

Answer

We do not! There are lots of options for places to stay near the synagogue and the celebration venue, and we want everyone to choose what works best for them. But we do have recommendations - see next question - and you're welcome to contact us if you need help finding the right place.

Question

Do you have any recommendations for places to stay?

Answer

Yes! Check out the “Where to stay” page for some hotel recommendations. You can also check Vrbo, Airbnb, etc. We recommend looking for spots in Center City or Old City, either within walking distance from the synagogue or not too far from the German Society (the celebration venue).

Question

Is there parking for the ceremony or celebration?

Answer

Parking is limited at both venues. Society Hill Synagogue will have parking passes for street parking in usually off-limits areas, and the German Society has a small parking lot as well as street parking. If you can, we highly recommend leaving your car where you are staying and then walking, biking, taking public transit, or getting a taxi (215-GET-A-CAB).

Question

Is there transportation between the ceremony and the reception?

Answer

We don't have a shuttle, but the 47 bus takes 15 minutes to get you right from one venue to the other! Walk two blocks west from the synagogue to 7th and Spruce Streets (turn left out the front door); the 47 bus stop is on the southeast corner. Get off at 7th and Spring Garden; the German Society is right on the corner. You can also walk or bike (1.3 miles) or take a taxi (215-GET-A-CAB).

Question

I have a dietary restriction. What will I be able to eat?

Answer

Dinner at the celebration will include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, as well as chicken and lamb for those who would like! Please share any dietary restrictions on the RSVP form, and we’ll be in touch if we need to talk about ordering special food.

Question

Are there any other events that I should know about around the wedding?

Answer

Yes! The wedding ceremony and celebration are Sunday, May 31, but we have a full weekend of events we would love you to join us for. See the “Schedule” page for full details.

Question

What do all these weird words mean?

Answer

Aufruf – Yiddish for “call-up.” During the Saturday morning service before the wedding, the soon-to-be-wed couple (in some traditions just the groom) is called up to bless the Torah. The congregation offers congratulations by singing and throwing candied fruit at them. (No joke!) Other family members are also honored. The service is followed by… Kiddush – Hebrew for the blessing over the wine, recited at the start of a festive meal. In this case, it also refers to the meal following the service, sometimes also called “kiddush lunch.” Tisch – Yiddish for “table.” On the morning of the wedding, the soon-to-be-wed couple (in some traditions just the groom) offers a commentary on the week’s Torah reading to the assembled crowd (in some traditions just the men). The crowd lovingly heckles the couple, interrupting their remarks and singing songs. Drinking is often involved. Bedeken –Yiddish for “covering.” This is the ceremony, following the tisch, in which the groom first sees the bride in her wedding dress and pulls down the bride’s veil so it covers her face. (In some traditions, it’s the first time the couple has seen each other in a week.) The lead-up to the covering itself is a celebration that often includes singing nigunim, or wordless songs. Ketubah – the Hebrew word for the Jewish marriage contract, written by the rabbi and signed by the bride and groom as well as witnesses. The ceremony for the signing of the ketubah takes place following the tisch and bedeken, and just before the wedding ceremony itself. Shiva – Hebrew for “seven.” The seven-day period (shiva) of mourning after a funeral is well-known; less well-known is the seven-day period (shiva) of joy following a wedding! Each night for the week after the wedding, we will gather in various festive occasions with friends, neighbors, and family. You are welcome to join if you’ll be in town! Nosh – Yiddish for “snacks.” We will have many of them. Mazel tov – Hebrew for “congratulations!”

Question

What if I have other questions?

Answer

Get in touch with us! ben.fink@gmail.com, isabellasegalovich@gmail.com