Linda was a Bay Area teacher who went to Israel during the summer of 1973 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the state. Marc, a Brooklyn teacher going to law school, was wandering through Europe when he decided to check out Israel.
On Thursday, Aug. 16, Linda went to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Thinking about what a magical, spiritual place it is, she decided to write a note saying, “Dear God, please help me find a man.” She placed it into the Wall.
The next night, Linda was in Haifa, where she attended a Shabbat service, then went with some American friends to the Dan Carmel Hotel.
As the three of them sat in the lobby, Linda noticed a man sitting opposite her. Suddenly, he asked her, “Is that a Borel you’re wearing?” (Borel is a brand of wristwatch, some of which have an unusual, revolving, psychedelic-style design.) “Yes it is,” she said as they showed each other their Borel watches and continued talking.
They decided to meet the following evening. They met again a few days later in Tel Aviv and then again the next week in Athens, which, coincidentally, was next on both of their itineraries. In Athens they realized this could be “the beginning of a beautiful friendship” or much more!
When Linda returned to the Bay Area and Marc to the Big Apple, they began a bicoastal relationship. “Whither thou goest, I goest,” thought Linda, and she joined Marc in New York. They married in December 1974.
After 11 years of living in New York and rearing two children, Marc decided he had had enough with the New York attitude and climate. The couple moved to the Peninsula, which has been their home for 15 years.
During the summer of 1996, Linda and Marc returned to Israel with a group of friends on a tour led by Rabbi Andrew Straus, then of Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame.
At the Kotel, someone asked Linda if she was going to put a note into the Wall, this time formally thanking God. Linda said, “Of course,” and did so. Actually Linda had been informally thanking God for Marc for almost 23 years, but now she felt God was saying, “You’re welcome.”
A few days later, surrounded by friends, Linda and Marc renewed their vows in Haifa during a ceremony led by Straus.
As a surprise to all, including Marc, Linda brought the dress she wore and the shirt he wore the night they met. They still fit and were worn for the ceremony.