Zeidy Marries Third Time

Will never forget when my grandfather HoRav Alter Yitzchok Izik Friedman zt”l married for the third time. The year was 1978. He already was 80 years old at the time. You can well imagine how reluctant everyone in the family was, about him  remarrying again. He however insisted and married Gittele in the presence of the Skulener Rebbe. Remember the Rebbe being delayed to the chasunah. The Kallah an old lady herself, refusing to go to the Chupah until the Rebbe arrived and was able to be Mesader Kedushin. It was a pretty interesting wedding to say the least. Watching Choson and Kallah sitting next to each other and the grandchildren dancing in front of them. It was a sight to behold.

Since I was very close with my grandfather, I asked him  when the opportunity presented itself, why he decided to marry a third time.“It’s strange Zeidy, but older people like you generally don’t get married a third time, especially at such an advanced age. Why did you?” What he answered, left an everlasting impression. His words and the lesson he  taught me then, still rings loud in my ears. “Az meleibt ahlein vert min selfish”. If you live alone you become selfish.

Life’s main purpose is to share and to give. My Zeidy remarried again just to make sure that he would not become selfish in his old age. He needed to live with someone in order to ensure that he would have with whom to share and to whom to give. What a holy marriage that was.