John, a timely event, reported on Arutz Sheva News Service, Sept. 9, 2004:

"For possibly the first time in over 1,930 years, a Jewish wedding ceremony, of
sorts, was held on the Temple Mount this afternoon.  The groom, from a Jewish
town in eastern Judea, placed a ring on his young bride's finger in front of a
group of friends, and then recited the traditional blessing on the wine.  Muslim
Waqf officials, usually very vehement about not allowing Jewish prayers to be
said at the site, sufficed with a weak protest.  The couple's friends accompanied
the new family with singing and dancing.

An aura of mystery surrounded the event.  Students at the groom's yeshiva
refused to answer questions about the ceremony - though it is known that a
"follow-up" real wedding ceremony will be held this evening.

It is known that in the times of King Solomon, there was a gate called the
Groom's Gate - but this was a place for grooms to come and receive a blessing
before or after their wedding.  More recently, Noam and Elisheva Federman of
Hevron were married just outside the Temple Mount, at the Mughrabim Gate
entrance."

John, may this encourage us, as we wait for our Bridegroom to come fetch
His bride, for the wedding of all weddings!  The Lord grant us grace and patience,
as we listen for the sound of the trumpet, and that wonderful voice of our
Beloved!

Love, Sharon Kaiser
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Thanks for sharing, Sharon.
John