Married at 92: Kyiv couple wed as ceasefire brings brief peace
Jewish community centre hosts five weddings in one evening
A pair of 92-year-olds were among those under the chupah as part of a mass wedding ceremony in Ukraine on Sunday.
For the first time since the outbreak of the war, the relative calm of a temporary ceasefire enabled Kyiv’s Jewish community, with 250 guests present, to hold five simchas at its Beit Menachem centre.
The ceasefire was held in honour of Victory Day, a holiday that both countries observe to commemorate victory over Nazi Germany.
Community members said that several of the young and old couples, including Michael and Tamara Gorny, both 92, had been living together for many years, but only now decided to marry.
Describing the event as one of the most moving moments the community has experienced in recent years, Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv, said: “To witness a couple aged 92 entering the chuppah is not something ordinary.
“We have been living for a long time under the shadow of war, with uncertainty and daily challenges becoming part of normal life. And specifically within that reality, people are choosing to pause and declare: we are continuing the chain of generations, preserving our tradition, and building a Jewish home.”
The Institute for Jewish Policy Research estimates the Jewish population across Ukraine to be around 32,000.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
