Editing The Wedding of the Rebbe Rayatz

The wedding of the Rebbe Rayatz with Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson took place on 13 Elul 5657 (1897) in the town of Lubavitch.

== The Tenaim (Engagement) ==
The Rebbe Rayatz was presented with three marriage proposals. Two were daughters of wealthy families who promised large dowries. The third was Rebbetzin Nechama Dina, whose parents were poor. The Rebbe Rashab specifically chose this match over the other two proposals, explaining that he wanted his only son, the Rebbe Rayatz, to marry within the family.

The tenaim between the Rebbe Rayatz and Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson was signed on 28 Sivan 5656 (1896) in the town of Alivka. For a week following, the parents of both the kallah and chosson held farbrengens during the month of Tammuz to celebrate the tenaim.

The Rebbe Rayatz remained in Alivka for several days afterward with his uncle, the Raza, who shared chassidic stories with him. On 11 Tammuz, the Rebbe Rayatz returned to Lubavitch with his uncle.

Due to the kallah's young age (15), the wedding was scheduled for over a year later.

== Between the Tenaim and Wedding ==
On 16 Av, the Rebbe Rayatz traveled to Vitebsk and heard stories from his grandmother, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka.

During the period between the tenaim and the wedding, the Rebbe Rayatz and his father would go on walks during which the Rebbe Rashab would prepare his son for marriage.

== The Wedding ==
On Friday, Parshas Ki Teitzei, 13 Elul 5657 (1897), at age 17, the wedding took place in Lubavitch. On his wedding day, the chosson wore a shtreimel, and his father instructed him to make a shehecheyanu blessing. After the chuppah, the Rebbe Rashab and a large crowd accompanied the chosson and kallah with singing to the hall where the seudah was held. On the way, the Rebbe Rashab said to his son: "Vechazakta vehayisa le'ish" (Be strong and become a man).

The seudah was held in the large zal in Lubavitch. During the meal, the Rebbe Rashab walked around with three chassidim (Reb Meir Mordechai Chernin, Reb Yaakov Kopel Zeligson, and Reb Shlomo Chaim Kutain) to ensure the waiters were serving everyone, and said l'chaim with each person. The Rebbe Rashab also delivered many chassidic discourses. After the wedding, the couple lived in a room built adjacent to the Rebbe Rashab's apartment.

During the Sheva Brachos meal on Sunday, 15 Elul 5657 (1897), the Rebbe Rashab announced his decision to establish Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, where both nigleh and chassidus would be studied.

Throughout the Sheva Brachos, the Rebbe Rashab delivered the hemshech Samach Tesamach 5657.

On Tuesday, 17 Elul, the Rebbe Rashab selected eighteen students who would form the first nucleus of Tomchei Tmimim.

Immediately after the wedding, the Rebbe Rayatz was appointed as the manager of the newly established Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim.

== Further Reading ==

* Rabbi Shneur Zalman Hertzel, '''Weddings of the Nesiim''' Volume One