"Zewdi"

Zewdi's mother, Emaneshe Kebede, was not at Zewdi's side at her wedding ceremony. Zewdi and her mother had 7 separated ten years ago in 2012, hoping that Zewdi would find a good life in the Land of Israel.

- MEITAL DOR

Zewdi made her long journey through the Sinai Desert alone. She spent her first nights in Israel behind bars, and her first warm bed was offered to her by the nuns in the Ethiopian church In Jerusalem (also known as The Kidane Mehret Church).

When Zewdi's baby, Mehert, was three days old, she found a family that adopted them. Yael, her husband, and their kids embraced Zewdi and her son into their home.

One day, Yael received a phone call from Zewdi, who was in tears and heartbroken. She told Yael that her mother, Emaneshe Kebede, had died in Ethiopia. Yael, Zewdi said gently, will be like a mother to her now.

Yael could not imagine back then that she would accompany her new daughter on her wedding day. After a few years of being a part of the Ethiopian church and attending services every Saturday, the nuns found Zewdi a match, Damte.

On Saturday morning, February 13th, 2021, Damte and Zewdi got married in a traditional Ethiopian ceremony surrounded by her friends and the church community that have been by her side for all these years.

The Orthodox wedding ceremony began at 6 AM with lit candles (Tuaf ), which symbolize the movement toward a happy life.

As Zewdi and Damte walked toward the ceremony hall, the groomsmen and relatives accompanied them, singing inspiring religious songs, thanking God, and welcoming the priests.

Two couples got married that Saturday, and the church hall was full of people.

The strong smell of incense and the divine sounds of prayer and singing that flooded the hall also shook my soul. It reminded me of my father's house of prayer and my traditional Yemenite wedding ceremony, Henna, which was almost twenty years ago.