Bnei Anousim couple return to Judiasm, re-marry in Jewish ceremony
Gila and Ariel Arditi on their (re)wedding day
Two years ago, we told you the story of Gila and Ariel Arditi, a Bnei Anousim couple from Colombia with a “West Side Story”-style romance and a hidden Jewish past. You can read the full article here.
After the Arditis began to seriously explore their Jewish roots while living in Bogota, Colombia’s capital, Shavei Israel enabled them to move to Israel in late 2010. They enrolled in Shavei’s Machon Miriam Spanish and Portuguese-language Conversion and Return Institute.
Now, years of hard work and determination have paid off: the Arditis, who are both in their 60s, recently completed their studies at Machon Miriam and formally returned to Judaism following an appearance before the Beit Din – Rabbinical Court – in Jerusalem. There was only one thing left to do: get married (again), this time according to Jewish Law and with a full Jewish ceremony. As at the beginning, Shavei Israel was there for this final step on the Arditis’ Jewish journey.
With Shavei’s help, the wedding was held in Jerusalem’s Heichal Shlomo synagogue. This is the same building where Machon Miriam is located and the ceremony was followed by a festive meal in the Institute’s classrooms, attended by Shavei Israel staff, teachers and students from Machon Miriam, and even a couple of young men from the Spanish and Portuguese department of Yeshivat HaKotel, who came to inject some extra simcha (joy).
In the pictures below, you’ll see the Arditis; their son Itamar and daughter Vered (who followed their parents and now live in Israel as well); Shavei Israel Founder and Chairman Michael Freund; Shavei Israel Educational Director Rabbi Eliyahu Birnbaum; and Rabbanit Renana Birnbaum and Rabbi Israel Diamant from Machon Miriam.
Mazel tov, Gila and Ariel!