Traditional Jewish Wedding Brings Merriment to Shanghai Synagogue

Shanghai, China’s historic Ohel Moshe synagogue hosted a rarity for this city’s small Jewish community when Ran and Osnat Fridman got married in a traditional wedding ceremony.

Officials from Shanghai’s Hongkou district government office attended, while more than 150 guests, family and friends of the bride and groom came from locations in Israel, the United States, Russia, China and other countries for the celebration.

Rabbis Shalom and Avraham Greenberg, respectively the directors of the Shanghai Jewish Center and the Chabad-Lubavitch center in Shanghai’s Pudong neighborhood, presided over the ceremony, which took place under an elaborate wedding canopy erected in the courtyard of the circa-1927 synagogue.

“We want to thank the Shanghai Jewish community and everyone who made our celebration become a reality,” said Ran and Osnat Fridman.

Accompanied by Dinie Greenberg, co-director of the Shanghai Jewish Center, the future Osnat Fridman enjoys a bridal reception in the historic Ohel Moshe synagogue in the Chinese port city’s Hongkou district.

At the same time, Ran Fridman, left, takes part in a pre-wedding ceremony presided over by Rabbi Avraham Greenberg.

Prior to walking to a wedding canopy erected in the synagogue’s courtyard, Ran Fridman lifts the bride’s veil during the part of the ceremony known in Yiddish as a bedeken.

Nechamie Greenberg, co-director of Chabad of Pudong, escorts the bride to the wedding canopy.

Ran Fridman gives the bride their wedding contract, known in Hebrew as a ketubah.

He places a wedding ring on her finger.

Few weddings have taken place in Shanghai since the once-bustling community dwindled in size during the 1950s. One two years ago took place in the Ohel Rachel synagogue across town.

Osnat Fridman celebrates with friends.

Her husband dances with his male guests.

Built in 1927, the Ohel Moshe synagogue is one of several in Shanghai. Today, it houses the city’s Jewish Refugee Museum.

Rabbi Shalom Greenberg, director of the Shanghai Jewish Center, offers words of inspiration to the groom.