Many Shluchim and dignitaries attended the wedding of Shua Hecht and Esti Shemtov at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. Full Story, Photos
Nearly 1,000 guests participated in the wedding of Rabbi Shua Hecht of Nice, France, to Esti Shemtov of Washington, DC, which took place last week in the majestic Omni Shoreham Hotel in the nation’s capital.
For many of the members of Congress, senior White House officials, diplomats, journalists, community leaders and dignitaries present, it was the first chassidic wedding they attended.
The atmosphere was magical, with dozens of Chabad shluchim and relatives from so many places mingling freely with some of America’s most prominent leaders at the reception, chupah and during the festive dinner afterwards.
A highlight of the evening was the chupah, set in the hotel’s green garden, during which explanations were presented to the assembled.
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of the umbrella organization Agudas Chassidei Chabad and grandfather of the kallah, was the mesader kiddushin. Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren oversaw the breaking of the cup in tribute of Jerusalem, and all kohanim in the crowd were invited up for birchas kohanim.
At the wedding hall, family and friends joined the parents of the couple, Nice Shluchim Rabbi Yossi and Faigy Hecht and Washington Shluchim Rabbi Levi and Nechama Shemtov for the meal and dancing, entertained by Benny Friedman and Shuki Sadon and the Choni Milecky Orchestra.
The event was a huge kiddush Hashem and kiddush shem Lubavitch.
Photos by Israel Bardugo and Baruch Ezagui.
The crowd filling up the Kabbalos Ponim at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC
Minnesota Shliach Rabbi Mendel Feller helps a guest with Tefillin
Senator Joe Lieberman, Nathan Diament of the OU and Steve Rakitt, CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
From R: Israeli Ambassador Michel Oren, Rabbi Levi Shemtov and Frédéric Doré, chargé d'affaires at the French Embassy
Colel Chabad Director Sholom Duchman (L) with Chabad philanthropist Yaakov Cohen
From R: Hong Kong senior Shliach Mordechai Avtzon, Queens Shliach Mordy Hecht and Sydney Shliach Eli Feldman
Yossi Soffer of Unique Advertising Group (L) with Ezra Friedlander of The Friedlander Group
Rabbi Levi Shemtov with Washington regulars Steve Rabinowitz (Clinton administration), Noam Neusner (Bush administration) and others
Bucks County, PA Shliach Rabbi Yudy Shemtov and his son Schenur
Retired U.S. Army officer Woody Goldberg, energy investor Irving Yoskowitz and COLlive editor Yehuda Ceitlin
The chosson, Shua Hecht, says the chassidus maamar at the kabalas ponim
Maryland Head Shliach Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan reads the tena'im
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Vice President Emeritus of the OU
Brazil Shliach Yossi Schildkraut and Moshe Drizin sign as witnesses
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov blesses his granddaughter the kallah
Bal Harbour Shliach Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipsker
Peretz Schapiro broadcasts the wedding to relatives who couldnt make it
Texas Head Shliach Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff reads the kesuba
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov and Rabbi YY Pinson, Head Shliach to Cote d'Azur in France under the chupah
Uncle of the chosson, Rabbi Matisyahu Kantor
Rabbi Nochum Kaplan, Director of Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch and the Chinuch Office, makes a bracha
Rabbi Levi Shemtov invites kohanim to come up for birchas kohanim
Leading birchas kohanim are the Feldman brothers, uncles of the kallah
The booklet "Teshura" explaining the meaning of a wedding and rare letters from the Rebbe
Kallah's brother Menachem Shemtov dances with diplomats representing France, the EU and Morocco
Some friends of Chabad in Washington DC
Florida Shliach Chay Amar, Hong Kong Shliach Mordechai Avtzon and Uruguay Shliach Eliezer Shemtov
Singers Beny Friedman and Shuki Sadon
Brothers dance: Eliezer Shemtov of Uruguay, Levi Shemtov of Washington DC, Yudy Shemtov of Bucks County, PA and Mendel Shemtov of NYC
Head Shliach of Thailand Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor with Rabbi Levi Shemtov
Rabbi Yossi Hecht, the chosson Shua Hecht and Rabbi Levi Shemtov
Texas Shliach Lazar Lazarov and Rabbi Shimon Lazarov, Kfar Chabad editor Aharon Dov Halperin and Rabbi YY Pinson, Head Shliach to Cote d'Azur in France
Senior White House official Shawn Maher brings personal greeting from the President and his wife
Frédéric Doré, chargé d’affaires at the French Embassy brings greetings from the French government
Midtown Manhattan Shliach Yehoshua Metzger (L) and Harvard University Shliach Hirschy Zarchi
Riverdale-NY Shliach Levi Shemtov, Note Shemtov of Crown Heights and Baltimore Shliach Levi Druk
Peretz Schapiro of Sydney and Rabbi Shmuly Feldman, Director of Yeshiva Centre in Sydney
Rabbi Levi Shemtov with members of his daily minyan at The Shul of Washington, DC
Brussels Rabbi Levi Matusof with Malcolm Honlein of the Conference of Presidents of Jewish Organizations
Yaankel Pinson of Crown Heights with Eduardo Elsztain, President of Chabad Argentina and treasurer of the World Jewish Congress
The wedding photographers Israel Barugo and Baruch Ezagui
1:30 AM: Aaron Shemtov concludes the wedding
Mazel Tov to Esti and the Shemtov Family!
Corey
MAZAL TOV!!!!!
LOVE
AND AZ CAMPER
Nice to see such a big showing of dignitaries and Shluchim from all over the world! A real testament to the amazing work done by the Shemtovs in DC!
Chek it out……..great to c u !!!
ahhhhhhh so happy for u ;d
Was fortunate to be there and to be part of a most beautiful chassidishe wedding which was a huge Kiddush hashem and Kiddush lubavitch!
It’s non other than PIPICK! in the kabalas panim pic 🙂
Agreed!!!!!!
Menachem k.
congrats shana! (detroit camp friend)
mazel tov esti!!!! kinus memories… 😀
i think boruch ezagui also did a good joob
Looking strong
The band and singers did a fantastic job!! Most leibedig wedding I’ve ever been to, and I didn’t even see the men’s side!
mazal tov to the hercht familly and the shemtov famm
Mazal-Tov!!!
it was a beutyfull wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The uniqueness of this wedding was that despite the fact that the wedding took place in Washington, and one would think that you have to impress many of attendees, there was only chasiddishe music, no flowers and the place was rocking with simcha and not with madness and wildness with wild and secular type of music! You could feel that it’s an Yiddishe and Chasiddishe simcha, without meshugaasen! A real example to emulate!
Levi and Nechama, may you continue to be a source of nachas to Rebbe!
photographers did a great job.
you guys rock
kiddush hashem and kiddush shem lubavitch!
Wish I was there
MMS
Mazal tov shua!!all the broches!!
Rafa michaan
mazal tov peretz for the wedding looking good
Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov! Mme Pinson, Feigy et toute la famille! Rachel
wow!!!shuky sadon is the singer!!! go shuky!!!!!!! atslaha rabba
Rabbi feldman head shliach to NSW (grandfather of the kalo) had a fligh to come in for the wedding but hashem had other plans and sent Irene along the way…
I wish I coulda been there! Looks like it was an amazing wedding! I just love that last pic of Aron!
I was at 4 weddings that Chony played at this month alone. The guys a music genius!!!
BARDUGO AND EZAGUI IN ONE PHOTO TOGETHER. THAT’S AWWWESOME!
He sand with chayus and chasidishe warmth. it was a plesure to see! More and more hatlocha. ker a velt HAYNT!
Not surprising to see a Rabbi Feller putting on Tefillin with
someone.
Mazel Tov and best wishes to all!
WOOOOOOW wow WOW wow WoW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
even better then the royal wedding!!!
where is head of chabad nsw and his rebetzin?
Boruch Hash-m such a beautiful simcha! Nice to see all the representative participating along with the OU too bad no one from Agugath Israel was shown
such beautiful Kallah and most gorgeous Gown
Here’s a caption just for you!
Where is Rabbi Pinchos Feldman?
Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov, Fayge beautiful pics with much nachas from them and all klal yisrael. tres tres belles photos et merci de les partager…
Ezagui and Bardugo = the 2 kings of photography in Lubavitch. Perhaps of the world
Mazal tov! Lady in picture 15, turn around i cant see u! WAS AN AWSOME WEDDING!
Hey menachem mazal tov good to c u
y.g.
you had an international wedding it showes the power of the rebbe and the unity of jews its moshiach’s time mazal tov it is beautiful
Wish I could have been there…
Is upside down!
To The Shemtovs. MAZAL TOV. A SACH NACHAS. MOSHIACH NOW.
friend from teen camp
ur cuzins 🙂
Chony Milecki you did it again!!!! What amazing music!!!
and i love the last picture 😀
beautiful wedding!!! mazal tov!
Was there.
Mazel Tov miss Shemtov (now Mrs. Hecht)
may u have much Hatzlacha in your married life!
love,
your 6th grade student.
SIMA TOV A MAZEL TOV EHHHHH LAAAANUUUU!