Jerusalem – Even longtime Chassidim are raising their eyebrows: A 16-year-old young man is engaged to his 15-year-old second cousin, both great grandchildren from ‘Chassidei Viznitz.” Thousands of members of the Viznitz Chassidic sect, one of the largest and wealthiest in the world, are expected to attend the festive wedding ceremony, which will take place in approximately another year.
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The engagement ceremony in Bnei Brak attracted more attention than usual. Both sides are great-grandchildren of the same “Admor,” the title of the leader of a Chassidic group. But their ages also were a center of interest. The groom-to-be is Chaim Meir Hagar, who learns in a Viznitz yeshiva, and his future wife is 10th grader Hinda Rosenbaum, who learns in a hareidi religious school in Rehovot.
Although the young man and woman will be a year older next year, the engagement ceremony was held Wednesday night, an unusually long period before a hareidi religious wedding, due to the importance of the families.
the same story has also been reported in Israeli Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom.
“Although the young man and woman will be a year older next year,”
great point.
Mazal Tov!!
The Gemorah in Kedushin suggeats that it’s best to get married at a young age.
Child abuse.
Mazel Tov!
I wonder if they will even talk to each other during this year.
In many U.S. States, you can marry as young as 15 or even 14 as long as there is parental consent.
why the fuss? let them begin their marriage with innocence and purity, not with cynical desperation that comes with greater age and the false expectations that are carried with experience. Would that we all had the ability to marry at such an age, and the community to foster the love and support, the world would be a far gentler place.
Babies. How are these children supposed to have the maturity to raise a family? At this rate they’ll be grandparents at 32. I’m all for marrying kids off young (I did it with mine) but this is ridiculous.
They look nice kids, but they are still kids. Anyone who has teens understands.
poor girl. Who’s decision is this?
Mazel Tov!
A message to post #2 : (If youll ever want to understand – really who cares?)
According to the “hundreds” of such marriages, ‘This’ Chosson Kallah have a greater chance of a happy marriage than YOURSELF of most typical shidduchim.
Look at the engagement picture, you can actually see the “brightness, maturity, etc” on them – may they be happy till 120 and be zocheh to built a Beautiful Jewish home with a continued fine Jewish chain…..
I’ve seen many such couples and am fortunate to have close working relations with a few. Let me just tell you: Most of them are “SO” smart and mature, I guess they have something in the blood.
mazol tov! is unusualy but it does happen in the u.s. to. for those who think not. in some states girls and guys can legaliy get married at the age of 16. without parnetal concent.
While most engagements (shidduchim) involve children a bit older, one would be wise to investigate whether this matters. In reality, we marry off our children (even those approaching or past age 20) as immature children who need to learn to live with the spouse, actually to grow up with them while playing house. The real issues are the upbringing they received through their younger years, the values they have made into their lifestyle, the ongoing, positive relationships with the older generations (parents, grandparents, rebbeiim, etc.), and the basics of good midos. The chronological age is hardly relevant. As far as the “falling in love” that is expected to occur during the “shidduch – bashow” phase, does it really matter? Circumstances can turn around on a dime from the negative to the positive, or chas veshalom the other way. If the mechutanim (and the young couple) manage things right, this couple can become something great and exemplary. I add my birchas hedyot for them to build a bayis ne’eman be’Yisroel that should be the foundation and continuation of heilige doros.
PLease don’t put the word “chasidim” in your remarks when was the last time you heard about such a thing amongst us jews?
Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were first cousins to one another. And there has been further inbreeding amongst their descendants (including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip).
Do you know that it is now common practice amungst “enlightened” parents in the secular community to allow teenagers to “share a room” with their friends of the oposite gender?
Mazal Tov that means she will be a mother b/4 the age of seventeen.
That is quite the beard for a 16 year old!
Mazel Tov to the groom and bride, and to their families, may Hashem give you health, wealth, love and everything your heart desires. The Bride is not a “Poor girl”, she is lucky to find her basherte at such a young age.
Going back about 80+ years ago this was considered the norm in most societies.
Mazal tov, i wish them all the best, better early than late. in the אלטער היים this was verry common. And this problem will go away very quick בעזה”י
At least they won’t have to worry about the shidduch scene now
#2 you are sick..they are happier then those getting marries at 35 after living together 10 years. and im sure it doesnt bother you in the least about the latter ,so what is it that bothers you in the former??
It’s really not politically correct, but the fact of the matter that all of great grand parents got married that age – and their sholom bayis was just fine. Stop bashing
What difference does it make? They don’t need don’t need to support themselves.
The Holy Satmar Rebbe Zt”l Reb Yoel didn’t get engaged at 15 he got engaged shortly after his Bar Mitzvah! and Married at 14 ! And its is common knowledge that As the son in law of the Pilantch Ruv he had a wonderful marriage ! So Achsheer Dorah! !and Our kindest Best wishes to the new Couple!
and whats so ‘civilized’ about the ‘civilized’ counties your such a ‘chasid’ of? living together years and years? babies found in garbage cans on college campuses, toaivah ‘marriges’ (you probably approove of that ) and on and on…#10 said it right
17, 15, 11, what’s the difference?Why not engage the prepubescent kids so that they will be ready to go at the first sign of adulthood?
Mazel tov to the couple on their engagement!
(And I truly don’t see what is the problem here. They are both above bar and bat mitzvah age so there is no halachic problem. Nor does being second cousins present a problem, in Judaism even first cousins can marry. Furthermore, in almost every state in the United States, 16 year olds can get married with parental consent, in many states including New York, even first cousins can marry, and there are even places where 16 year olds can get married *without* parental consent. My father had a first cousin who married her then 21 year old husband in 1941 at the age of 17; the marriage lasted until this past March when he passed on.)
This is of nobodys business. I’ve seen cuople marrying at twenty five and being miserable. It all depends on the type of person. She might be a better wife and mother at 15 than many other mothers I’ve came across that are much older.
So everyone please shut up and see how it turns out.
#41 go hack a chinik…’studies’ studies’ .who made those ‘studies ??.by adding the word ‘studies’ it becomes holy, eh? like from ‘moshe mipu hagevurah’.well let me give you my own studies..divorce rates are much higher in your ‘civilized’ societies because the marrage is ‘ahvah hateliah bedover ‘ that is soon botel , as opposed to our marriges which is ‘teliah’ in building bais namon b’yisroel which is not botel and love come after. ‘vyivayhu huohalah sarah imo’ and then comes ‘vayahuvayah’
In NEW YORK 16 year olds can marry (with consent.) This is the case in practically every U.S. State, with some states having ages under 16 allowed to marry.
The Kallah will be 16 at her wedding. She could legally marry in New York.
This comment is not about the article but about the comments:
If you belive that in “some” or “most” of the states it is legal to get married at 14, you might end up in jail for a statutory rape! In very few states it is 15 with parental consent, in most it’s 16!!!
I believe in Israel it’s 16 or 17 with parental consent and court approval.
Mazel Tov!!!! Before WW2 people got married at ven younger ages and they had a much much much lower devorce rate than todays! If 2 people are brought up in a Kosher environment it is possible to be ready for marriage at such a young age. I can’t say that many people are on the level but if they are then why wait?? Mazel Tov!
#15 so that means you dont adhere to torah values?
Why the rush to get engaged? What would habe happened it they got engaged next year, or the year after?
mazel tov i wish the new couple lots of happiness i am suprised at the apikorses and anti torah comments made on this ultra orthodox site
wow this is so beautiful! think of the good side. they eill have 104 years to live together IY”H. not too many of us have this opportunity! & anyway I don’t know y this is news. these ages are NOT uncommon by rebbes and israel. I know many ppl this age happily married. so unless u guys r jealous- they have a better chance to grow together…..so if ur not upto doing this. then this situation is nt for u but its normal for us!!!
May they Build a Bayis Ne”eman Biyisrael. Amen!!!
I wish I would have married my wife a few years earlier too. At least then I wouldnt feel bad for my errors of my youth. I think if they can do it GREAT Ashreichem.
So .. To all the civilized people. To teach our children about s.. And c.. Is better? Look at the divorce rate by modern orthdox and the secular world ,then talk. The chasidishe lifestyle is heilig and buitiful ,all you cynics , come look at our communities , at the depth and our true simchas hachaim . Yes ,we might have some bad apples. we are the ones that keep yiddishkeit aflout.
Why should someone care what they do it does not effect us at all, I couldn’t care less,
I just hope they went on one date or meeting to see if they like each other.
The problem is with a marriage like this they cannot get divorced i guess and it could be many years of pain
I was married at 19 and I didnt know better. Our parent’s choose our spouse for us. We really dont have much to say in the matter… Would I do it all over again? NO!
Remember, Chazal tell us in Kiddushin that Shmonah Esrei L’Chupah. I believe that is the best policy and I wish I had married at that age. Today with all the nisayonos of the internet and the toaivah atmosphere of the Olam, it is wise to marry young. The sad thing is hearing in the news that most frei women believe that they can marry and have children easily after 36. They then learn that most women after 36 that are pregnant are using eggs from a DONOR !!! They will never have natural children. Better marry young and have a large family. Amen !
Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov! May the marriage happen at a good and auspicious hour and the new couple should build a binyan adei ad on the foundation of Toiroh u’Mitzvos.
My grandmother got married right after world war II at the age of 16, she was 12 when she was dregged into a concentration camp. Her mother and father were shot by the Nazis when she was 12. I guess it all depends on times and circumstaces when one wants to marry. I dont see a problem in maturity to get married. On here side its not a problem, look howmany girls get in trouble at the age of 14 thats because of imaturity, but to do it right what is the abuse of getting married at age 17? Oh its because of the father and mother deciding, they would decide even when she is 20. About him getting married makes you mature. About the whole idea getting married with out falling in love, we chasidic people dont believe in marrige becuase you fell for love.
Mazal Tov to the. There is nothing wrong if the girl consents, which I am sure she did. They have my blessings. The young couple won’t have to support themselves. The girl will stay home and keep house and raise her children, which I am sure she wants to, because she was brought up, knowing this is her tafkid in life. The choson will learn in Yeshiva like he does now anyway. While not every young person is ready to marry so young, it is only because of our society nowadays that such young marriage is discouraged and frowned upon. If children are taught at a young age what Hashem expects from us, and that life isn’t only about “ME” and the pursuit of gashmiyus, then there is no reason to assume that it is wrong for them to marry so young. It was always done in the “alte heim”. If parents were poor and couldn’t support their children, then sometimes the children became “spinsters” in their teens.
My son, who is 26, is getting married to a young lady of 22, whom he met AT WORK. He was also in the Israeli army, which would have made him “not good shidduch material” in many chassidishe kreisen.
I Got married at 18 and six months, and seriously speaking, I could not have hoped for better.. I got engaged when I was 18 and two months, and had a five month engagement… I am chassidish, and did not date, I did have to Bshows with my husband though, and from the first second, I knew that he was my bashert… You cannot talk until you’ve been there done that.. Yes I was Desperate by seventeen already, since a good girl can only give all she has to offer after marriage.. If you are zoche, Marriage Is enlightening, Heartwarming, beautiful, and the most fulfilling experience ever… If a girl wants to remain sane and on an acceptable standard, she gotta get married…. Once your married LIVE LIFE, and ROCK IT!! And *NO*.. You do not have to become a popcorn machine that pops babies, and go up ten sizes, and become miss shlump…. What can be more beautiful then a young beautiful Eishis Chayil, that takes care of herself, her husband, and IYH, her kids???!!!
Another note, My gut tells me, that all critics are just plain good old fashioned green with jealousy…. DO YOU THINK SUCH A COUPLE THAT WAS REFERENCED ABOVE CANNOT LOVE EACH OTHERS LIKE THE REST OF US?? They come to love their spouses even more than average, since they’re young innocent and know of no others.. Now Everyone.. WHAT CAN BE BETTER THAN THAT???
I see no problem with this situation. but if someone else does, why should they be labelled as an “apikorus”? That’s just sick and ossur.
Check with a competent physician: the odds of serious (R”L) maternal and/or baby complications at this age are very high. The genetic risks with children born to first and second cousins are much higher than in the general population.