A story already written

It all began at a Chabad Young Professionals Encounter Weekend Shabbaton in New York, where we both signed up for the speed dating event. In a room full of Jewish singles hoping to find a meaningful connection, David unknowingly sat beside Nathalie instead of across from her, not realizing he was on the wrong side of the table. Today, it feels like one of those small moments that could only have been bashert. What started as a conversation quickly became something we couldn’t ignore.

We met at a time when we were both on our own Jewish journeys, deepening our connection to Judaism and embracing a vision for the kind of home and future we hoped to build. The timing couldn’t have been more meaningful. We were each searching for something deeper, and at exactly the right moment, we found in each other everything we had been searching for. From the very beginning, we were drawn together by our shared values, our love for Judaism and Israel, and our dream of building a warm, joyful home.

We balance each other beautifully. Nathalie brings thoughtfulness, organization, and a clarity of vision to everything she does. David brings warmth, kindness, and an incredible ability to find joy in the little moments. Together, we’ve built a partnership rooted in love, mutual support, and a shared commitment to helping one another become the best versions of ourselves. It is what makes us believe we have found our bashert – our soulmate, our other half, and the person we were meant to build a life with.

Our relationship began across borders and time zones. Long-distance wasn’t always easy, but every phone call, every flight, and every goodbye only made us more certain that we had found the person we wanted to spend our lives with. Along the way, we created memories we’ll cherish forever, from skiing together in Banff to celebrating Shabbat in different cities to an unforgettable adventure in Belize filled with sunshine, laughter, and new experiences. Distance taught us patience, deepened our commitment to one another and to our shared Jewish journey, and reminded us that the best things in life are worth waiting for.

One of our favorite parts of our relationship has been sharing Shabbat together. Whether it is lighting candles, enjoying a meal, sharing meaningful conversations, or simply slowing down and being present with the people around us, Shabbat has become a special time for us to reconnect and appreciate the blessings in our lives. We are so excited to build a home filled with family, warmth, laughter, Torah, and mitzvot – a home where love, Jewish values, and a deep connection to Israel are at the heart of everything we do.

Looking back, we are endlessly grateful to Hashem for bringing our paths together at exactly the right moment, and to our families, friends, and community who have loved and supported us throughout this journey. We can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with you.