Only Simchas




Melody Ilyse Amores Sumpter and Jason Amores Sumpter


     The weekend of May 14th and 15th was a very special weekend for the Levine/Boxinbaum branches of my family tree. We celebrated the wedding of Melody Ilyse Snyderman (my niece) and Jason Amores Sumpter. It was a long anticipated event, postponed due to Covid but its spirit was not at all diminished by the delay. I haven’t seen that many happy faces in one room in a long time. Their perseverance in the face of a worldwide pandemic is a testament to the love and dedication these two young people have for each other. 

     Jason and Mel are two intelligent, hard working, and independent adults. They are both successful in their chosen careers. They are fun loving and enjoy traveling within and out of the country. They recently bought a condo in Miami where they have lived for several years.

     All weddings are a melding of two families and this one was no exception. Jason’s mother, Lupe, is from Spain and many relatives happily took the flight across the Atlantic to take part in the celebration including Lupe’s sister. Jason’s two brothers. David and Marco were there and were his best men. Melody had much of her family there including all of her first cousins and all of her aunts and uncles and, of course her brother Cory. Mel and Jason grew up in the Baltimore area and had many friends from high school, college, and their old neighborhoods attending. 



     The ceremony was officiated by Melody’s aunt Marian. Marian’s opening remarks included mentioning a significant event that had happened on this same weekend 108 years earlier. Melody’s great grandparents, Louis Levine and Tillie Cohen, tied the knot in a rabbi’s study on the lower east side of New York City in 1914 on May 15th. I remember their 50th anniversary party in 1964 and I only hope that Jason and Mel reach that pinnacle and have a party that rivals Louis and Tillie’s. 

 


   Aah, but there is another great grandparent connection. Mel’s mom, Cheryl explained it in her remarks at the reception. The ceremony and reception were held at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum. This Museum is dedicated to the contributions by African Americans to the Baltimore Maritime industry. Ironically, Jason’ great grandfather, Joseph Sumpter worked in the Baltimore harbor with the Merchant Marines and is part of what this museum is devoted to. 

     I didn’t need any more reasons to be excited about their wedding. The genealogist in me is excited to start researching a whole new branch to my family tree. The Yiddish expression “Oif Simchas” which means Only Simchas is the wish that we all only meet at happy occasions. It was a beautiful event and the great grandparent connections made it even more special. We did, however, miss those ancestors that are no longer with us. Moe, Minnie, Marion, and Irv and of course, Melody's father, Bob were all smiling down on the Baltimore inner harbor that weekend. They didn’t stop the rain but the brightness of the moment was enhanced by their memories.


Here are a bunch of pictures of the wedding for all of you to enjoy. 










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