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A Wedding Nothing Short of Miraculous

When Yossi White broke the glass under the Chuppah with is right leg, it was nothing short of a miracle for all his family and friends. The wedding of Yossi White and Sima Purdy, that took place this Sunday at Oholei Torah, was originally planned for March of last year. Yet a quick drive to pick up some pizza one cold Motzei Shabbos in February, a mere six weeks before their scheduled wedding date, quickly derailed those plans.

That quick drive turned into a massive multi-car accident, with an oncoming car careening out of control, crushing their vehicle against a parked car.

“It took 20 minutes for Jaws of Life to get them out of the car,” says Mrs. Henna White, Yossi’s mother, “ Looking at the car, you wouldn’t think anyone survived, it was a real miracle.” Sima escaped with a broken eye socket and a few broken ribs, while Yossi suffered more severe injuries, breaking every bone in his left arm, as well as a bone in his right arm and hip.

Yossi ended up spending three months in Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, bedridden for a lot of the time. His roommate, his mother tells us, was an elderly women who just celebrated her 100th Birthday. Yossi and Sima’s wedding was postponed for six months – finally taking place this Sunday, on September 11th.

Mrs. White credits the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights with playing a vital role in Yossi’s recovery, with volunteers visiting each week, and sending Shabbos meals every Friday. “Bikur Cholim made everything so much easier, sending visitors meant so much, especially on Shabbos, the loneliest time to be in the hospital,” she says, “with scrumptious meals every Friday. Nothing was forgotten. We’re eternally grateful to Bikur Cholim. What a difference they made in his recovery.”

Today, Yossi is a Bikur Cholim volunteer himself, regularly driving patients to doctor appointments.

For Bikur Cholim, Yossi and Sima’s wedding epitomizes what their organization is all about. “Today we witness and rejoice in the fulfillment of our motto and fervent wish – ‘healing through kindness’” says Esther Blau, Volunteer Coordinator. “A visit, a meal, a drive or kind word, adds up to a much greater total than the individual small acts of kindness. To be able to partake in this Simcha and know we had even a small part in making it happen is so rewarding for all of us.”

For more information about Bikur Cholim and how you can get involved, email info@bikurcholimCH.org or call (718) 467-1661.

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20 Comments

  • a stranger

    what a nice story! You know with such a rocky start, your marriage will only be filled with brochos! mazel tov!

  • Miriam

    Mazal Tov! This story give me the chills! May the choson and kalla know of only good frol now on! Bunyan adei ad and all the brachos!

  • amazed

    wow amazing many more simchos to come for the choson and kallah with brochos galor

    mazel tov

  • Esti

    Mazel Tov! Only the best! I hope that becouse of your contuious faith in hashem that he will grant you only simchas,and a wanderfull marrige with wonderfull family and friends! So nice to hear such great news! Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov!

  • judith carter

    MOZEL TOV!! May you have many many years together and those years be filled with Simchas.
    Such a wonderful story to hear about!

  • B H

    BAruch Hashem. What a miracle that you survived and healed, and that your commitment survived. May you always be happy and healthy as you build your Bayis Ne’eman b’yisroel with dor yesharim of healthy children. bringing chassidishe nachas to your parents and all klal yisroel.

  • mazal tov!

    Beautiful story. Beautiful organization. Bikur Cholim and other chesseds make us a beautiful community.

  • Shaynee Kroker (Simon)

    Sima – Mazal Tov!!! Sorry I missed the wedding -you look beautiful!! All the brachos :)

  • None of your business

    To # 8-are you serious that a woman shouldn’t wear a tichel to a wedding? Isn’t it her decision how she covers her hair? Some consider it more frum to wear a tichel than a sheitel.

  • Old Montreal Tour Guide

    Asher, you look fantabulous. Even better than you did in the good old Miami days. Wish we were there at the wedding…

    A.S. & Y.H.

  • yours truely

    to number 8 and number 17- is this really the place to ask that? her hair was covered and that’s the point. and these comments are mostly to wish the chosson and kallah mazel tov, not petty judgments on what people use to cover their hair at simchos.

  • Kate

    Congratulations to the happy couple! What a beautiful and inspirational story! Mazel Tov!