וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ד יַעֲקֹ֛ב בְּרָחֵ֖ל שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ בְעֵינָיו֙ כְּיָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֔ים בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹתָֽהּ …Then Yaakov kissed Rahel, and broke into tears.... So Yaakov served seven years for Rahel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.... Genesis 29 I don't know how many lifetimes it took, nor the name of the malach (angel) who got the message that we were ready enough to meet, and hence, opened the door between us, but one evening this mysterious, sassy, honey-hearted, courageous Jersey-raised cacao-spiced woman, the world calls Jessie Rose Rahel Duke, someone I had never heard of before, too beautiful to remember even in my dreams, because waking up would be too painful, like a shooting star whose light comes from another time, she suddenly stopped her soaring across the heavens, and knocked on my door, (well, she sent a text message!). And now, 397 days later, I’m writing this wedding invitation, inviting you to come stand at another gateway, that will mark not just a moment in time, but sanctify the reunification of 2 exiled parts finding the better half that makes us whole. Who here has not walked through hell in hopes of being afforded even a glimpse of the Heavens. In honor of this, we ask you, our beloved family, our dearest friends, to participate with us, to witness and help us take the first blessed step in our humble way, across the Sea of Reeds of our former lives, into a new life together as Chatan (groom) and Kallah (bride), into G-d Willing a long good life of blessing, of service, of love, of learning. If you can make it, come make a simcha (joyous celebration) with us, to be remembered. With love, Elan (& Jessie)