Tess & Zev
Temple Israel
Eleanor & Marvin Feldman (Tess' Grandparents)
On the evening of October 29, 1966, at Temple Israel, Eleanor Kerpen married Marvin Feldman, both proud Hofstra graduates. Rabbi Joel Y. Zion and Cantor David Benedict led a ceremony filled with warmth and song as their parents, Leo and Tessie Kerpen of Hewlett Harbor and Nathan and Sylvia Feldman of Hempstead, watched with pride. Eleanor’s brother Kenneth Kerpen stood as best man while Susan Feldman, Marvin’s sister, stood by her side as maid of honor. That autumn evening marked the start of a lifelong partnership and a cherished family tradition that would return again and again to the same sacred sanctuary.
Michael & Deborah Finkelstein (Tess' Parents)
On Sunday, January 24, 1993, at noon, Michael Finkelstein and Deborah Feldman stood beneath that same sanctuary in Temple Israel where Eleanor and Marvin had wed decades earlier. In a moment filled with meaning, Rabbi Joel Y. Zion, who had married Deborah’s parents in 1966, once again stood beneath the chuppah, this time officiating as Eleanor watched with pride and Marvin’s presence was warmly felt. That winter afternoon became a bridge between generations, uniting family, faith, and memory beneath the same sacred roof.
Tess and Zev
Temple Israel of Lawrence is far more than a synagogue; it is a warm, steady thread woven through our family’s story. From Eleanor and Marvin in 1966, to Michael and Deborah in 1993, and soon Tess Finkelstein and Zev Davis on March 8, 2026, each wedding has been held in the same sanctuary, wrapped in the same spirit of love and belonging. The same light that once warmed their grandparents and parents will now shine on Tess and Zev as a third generation bound by tradition, faith, and the quiet, enduring beauty of Temple Israel. We are so excited to share this joy with you and cannot wait to celebrate together.
