A Jewish couple got married in Dubai on Wednesday in what is considered the largest Jewish wedding ever to take place in the United Arab Emirates.
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More than 600 young men and women from Russia and the former Soviet Union attended the celebrations that took place in the heart of the Dubai desert.
The attendees were flown to the Gulf state by the Yachad outreach organization that runs Torah-learning groups throughout the former FSU and is led by Moscow-based Chabad Rabbi Mendy Wilansky. Yachad aims to strengthen Jewish communities abroad and prevent assimilation by teaching youngsters about Jewish values.
The Dubai trip was the culmination of a year-long weekly Torah-learning program that all 600 youngsters attended. Yachad organizes such trips annually.
"The first generation to grow up after the collapse of the Iron Curtain came to visit Dubai, to see how it's possible to walk around with a kippah and tzitzit [ritual fringes], as proud Jews, even in an Arab country," said Russian Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar, who officiated the wedding.
According to Lazar, Emirati officials commended such celebrations taking place in their country and even met with youngsters during their trip.
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