JADE & ADAM

Adam: The first time I met Jade, I was at the JLE with Rabbi Dov about to go into a talk for the Shloshim after my father had passed away a month earlier. Although, it was a sad time for me, I was taken by how warm and friendly Jade was in greeting Rabbi Dov, who she knew from a Jewish trip 5 years earlier. I didn't have the opportunity to talk to her, but I saw her again at a Friday Night Dinner a couple of weeks later and introduced myself. Jade asked me to walk her friend back to Golders Green. Unfortunately, I lost the friend but messaged Jade on Facebook a couple of days later to check if the friend was ok. Jade had little recollection of our conversation, even asking me or knowing who I was. Jade: I remember seeing Adam around at community events, charity dinners, Jewish learning groups and get togethers, I didn’t think too much of him other than he was a sweet quiet guy. Possibly the boring accountant type (without even knowing he was an accountant.) We had a few one-on-one interactions, sometimes I remembered him, sometimes not. The first conversation I clearly remember having was him telling me that a mutual friend was engaged and that I should come to her engagement party. I did. Adam was there, we chatted a bit and I suggested he go out with a friend of mine. I then proceeded to hand him a wooden fish decoration and told him that I hope he finds his fish. Adam: About 18 months later and after bumping into Jade at various events, I saw her again at Chill and Chat, a social and jewish talk arranged by a mutual friend. I was intrigued by her purple hiking boots, with smart work dress and approached her to investigate further. After finding out that Jade was climbing Kilimanjaro, I mentioned that a mutual friend Caroline was having an engagement party the next day. Fortunately, Jade messaged to wish Caroline a Mazal Tov on her engagement to Chaim and got a last minute invitation to the engagement party. I was very pleased to see Jade, until she offered to set me up with her friend. Although, slightly disappointed that Jade appeared not to be interested in me, we exchanged wooden fish which were on the table as a sign that we would both meet our soul mate soon. Jade: The next day, a mutual friend posted my Kilimanjaro charity fundraising link on a communal group. I saw that Adam donated and reached out to message him. Not having his number, I resorted to the Facebook. I saw that he had messaged me over a year and a half earlier and that we had in fact been Facebook friends since the night I asked him to walk my friend home from a Shabbat dinner. Our chat started friendly, I thanked him, apologised for not replying properly to the message from so long before and then I pushed him for critical life test answers such as what his favourite desserts are and what snacks he likes best. Our bonding over sweet treats began as he began telling me about his life, his kindness, practicality and humour peppered through the chat. I appreciated how thoughtful, considered and responsive he was and felt a sense of comfort and security as he encouraged me for my climb. I messaged him from Tanzania as we arrived and the only time I had signal on the 8 days on the mountain I tried to check to see if he had messaged me (unfortunately the signal was not strong enough for the Facebook). He was one of the first people I messaged on my way down and he kept me company while I was ‘delayed’ on my flight back. Impressed that my self-imposed chaos did not deter him, I was really excited to meet him the night I got back to London and decided to finally give him my WhatsApp number. Adam: I received a message to sponsor Jade for her Kilimanjaro climb as I was walking into Shacharit the following Sunday morning. Knowing that this is always a good time to give tzedakah I immediately made a donation. I was also secretly hoping and expecting Jade to say thank you. I received a message back and didn't waste the opportunity to finally have Jade's attention. She was heading to Tanzania the next day, but I was very pleased that she was finally engaged in the conversation and was very friendly and funnier than I was expecting. When Jade was climbing Kili, I was in Malta with some friends. I missed her chat while she was on the mountain without coverage and was very pleased to see her message me when she got down off the mountain. I wasted no time to arrange a date when we both got back to London. Jade: For our first date, we walked to dinner, I brought snacks, he brought an umbrella. I sat across the table from him wondering 2 things: 1) Why isn’t he eating the hummus I ordered to share; and 2) Is this someone I could fall in love with. We continued to meet over the next week – from sushi on a park bench to Shabbat walks and meeting my friends, Adam rose to everything I asked for and invited for us. I always thought that ‘falling’ in love meant fireworks, butterflies in my tummy and an insatiable yearning. I learnt that ‘climbing’ in love means safety, security, vulnerability, commitment, enduring and unexceptional kindness and respect. Marrying Adam doesn’t even feel like a decision. It feels like acting out the ordinary course of the way things are meant to be and the way they have always meant to be. The easiest thing I have ever done and the most whole-hearted commitment I have and will ever make. Adam: From the first moment of our first date, I knew Jade was the one. I felt at ease and could be myself. Jade is the most beautiful person in the world inside and out. She radiates loving, kindness, warmth, generosity and care. We connected instantly and after waiting a very (very, very, very) long to find my soul mate I knew I had found her. Jade and Adam: On advice from Rav. Shlomo, we are best friends, lovers and business partners and we know that together, we are the strongest team in the truest sense of the word. We make the mundane magical for each other and there is nowhere we would rather be in the world than laughing and cuddling together. To our beloved family and friends, we are eternally grateful that you guided us, encouraged us and helped us grow into who we are to be able to meet each other, our right people, at the right time. We have both been through a lot waiting for this divine timing to align and we could not be more grateful to each of you for standing by us and listening to our stories of past loves and questionable life choices. On this special day, Hashem’s magic is not only here for us, but to celebrate our worlds, lives and people coming together. We think about those who have passed and would be celebrating us with all their hearts and wish that the love we have for each other and for each of you will reach them too. We pray for our dear friends who are still waiting patiently for their people to find them soon and build their dreams like we are so grateful to be able to do.