JUDAISM, BUDDHISM AND SCIENCE

Alan Dressler, author of Voyage to the Great Attractor, along with other top scientists, helped begin the project of mapping the universe as we know it today because of the Hubble Telescope. Alan is also on the team building the world’s largest telescope, which will take astronomy to the next level.

The Great Attractor was at work when Alan met Charmeen. Their mutual love of art, music, poetry, and nature created a permanent connection of the soul.

The ceremony included a blend of Jewish and Chinese traditions. My three favorites were the tea ceremony, presented to Charmeen’s only living parent, her mother; the selection of a beautiful red shawl—rather than a tallit—for the benediction wrap around the couple, after which all the guests signed the stole as a permanent keepsake; and the breaking of the glass. For that, Alan used one of his mother’s possessions: a set of eight antique Orrefors crystal glasses. Using one of these treasures for the breaking of the glass demonstrated that even the most valuable material possessions pale in comparison to the love celebrated in this moment.

One more thing: I was able to surprise the groom by using the title of his book as the theme of the wedding, “A Voyage to the Great Attractor.”