We had the opportunity to meet with and get to know Rabbi Susan in 2022 while we prepared for our wedding. It was very important to both the bride and groom to have a jewish’ish wedding. However during our time with Rabbi Susan we moved more towards a Jewish wedding, rather than ish. She’s not just a wedding officiant, as you get the opportunity to spend time with her during her “sessions” leading up to the wedding.
Rabbi Susan’s sessions were fabulous. It gave my husband and I an opportunity to get to know more about each other. She asked how our relatives relationships were, how our parents parents came to Canada and what their marriage traditions were etc. It was unexpected and wonderful. We also got to learn about Rabbi Susan herself, which was so special for us to have someone we knew marry us.
She wrote her “script” for our wedding and gave us the opportunity to edit and review. Her ceremony was unlike anything us, our family, or guests ever experienced. For months people have been telling us how amazing Rabbi Susan’s ceremony was.
We also had the opportunity to have her do our ketubah signing 2 days early with just our family and wedding party (winter wedding made the timing too tight for night of signing) Which was so special and intimate and just for us.
We love Rabbi Susan and would highly recommend her. Having her officiate your wedding will be the best and easiest decision you’ll make for your wedding.
Thank you again with Love Eryne & Matt
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Thank you Eryne for such a wonderful "review". It was a joy and a privilege to meet and "work" with you and Matt, getting know you and the beautiful interior of your relationship, and to co-create such a beautiful and meaningful wedding ceremony. You are an amazing couple, so much in love, so devoted to each other. The personal words of intention and commitment you spoke to each other moved me deeply. I am so very appreciative of the opportunity it/you gave me.
Madison F. Married on 03/09/2022
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Jew-ish Wedding
My husband and I are so grateful that we could have a Rabbi marry us. Celebrating Jewish tradition is an important part of our relationship. Rabbi Susan got to know us over the span of a year and considered both of our needs and interests. I was baptized Lutheran as a baby, and identify as "spiritual". The ceremony felt spiritual to me because I understood the meaning behind the huppah, circing, and breaking of the glass. My husband's uncle Howard (well known artist in Israel - look him up!) created a gorgeous Ketubah. It's hanging in our room now and is very precious to us. None of this would be possible if we couldn't have an interfaith wedding with a Rabbi. I felt like I knew Rabbi Susan by the time she married us. It wasn't a stranger or generic officiant. She met our families on Friday when we had Shabbat dinner. A true honour to have a Rabbi join us! Now that she has married us, she's our Rabbi for life!
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Madison and Aaron, thank you for this beautiful and heartfelt review. It was an honour and a privilege, not to mention a lot of fun, to co-create and officiate at your deep, unique and magical wedding ceremony. You are a very special couple and I am so glad that I am your Rabbi for life!
Nicholas P. Married on 31/08/2022
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Incredibly personalized and meaningful ceremony
Rabbi Susan was incredible. She took time to get to know and understand us as individuals and as a couple. She appreciated the unique concerns we had and why we wanted to create an individualized ceremony that was meaningful to us. She was able to help us honour individual Jewish roots while also holding space for progressive and non-Jewish elements that were important to us. We are so excited to have ventured down this path with Rabbi Susan.
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Nick and Ariela, It was such a joyful and deeply meaningful journey. Spending the past year getting to know the interior beauty of your relationship and you two glorious individuals allowed me the blessing of standing with you for the Bedekken and Huppah ceremonies with authenticity and great delight at the confluence of some of the most intimate expressions of Jewish tradition and the gorgeous inclusivity of big tent Judaism. I am grateful for the honour you gave me.
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Ariella Z. Married on 14/08/2022
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A wonderful Rabbi for our "Jewish-ish" wedding
As a Jewish person marrying an other-than-Jewish partner, it was important to honour both of our families and backgrounds for a wedding with meaning and to set us up for a loving marriage to come. We had only heard good things about Rabbi Shamash and when we first met, she had as many questions for us as we did for her to ensure it was the right fit. The preparatory meetings were not simply to learn who stands where or who says what during the wedding, but to learn about us as a couple and what it means to be married. She was always responsive to our many questions in leading up to the ceremony and we had the opportunity to meet the other couples she had married.
On the big day, Rabbi Shamash made every bit of the ceremony feel special for us, our families and our guests. It did not end there as in her words, she is our "Rabbi for life" and we look forward to continue learning from her and navigating our lives as a married couple. Thank you, Rabbi Shamash, for making this simcha so very special!
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Ariella and Nam, thank you for this wonderful "review". You are, in many ways, my “ideal couple”. Your love for and commitment to each other is awesome and your willingness to work deeply with me was inspiring. You knew exactly what you wanted and never for a moment forgot exactly who the ceremony was for (the two of you). It was a pleasure and a privilege to be your Rabbinic Officiant and I look forward to being your Rabbi for many years to come.
Wendy S. Married on 18/06/2022
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Very professional and engaging
As someone with a strong background in Judaism, I was very impressed with Susan's depth of knowledge, professionalism, and people skills. She did an absolutely amazing interfaith marriage for my daughter, which was deeply appreciated by all the Jews and non Jews who were there. Those with no religious background were especially appreciative of her explanations and sensitivity. Can't recommend her highly enough!
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Thank you Wendy for this wonderful review. It was an honour and a privilege, not to mention a lot of fun, to co-create and officiate at Hillary and Sebastian's magical "Jewishish" wedding ceremony. They are a very special couple! And a tribute to you ...
Kerem T. Married on 07/05/2022
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Wonderful ceremony!
Rabbi Shamash prepared and officiated a beautiful ceremony that told our story and interwove our backgrounds.
In the two years before the wedding (twice postponed because of COVID) Rabbi Shamash met with us in person and over zoom taking the time to get to know us, teach us about Jewish wedding tradition, and providing guidance on married life. These meetings were in themselves a nice part of our engagement and step toward our wedding.
Can’t recommend highly enough!
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Kerem and Robyn, thank you for this heartfelt review. It was an honour and a privilege, not to mention a lot of fun, to co-create and officiate at your magical wedding ceremony. You are a very special couple!
Astrid S. Married on 27/02/2022
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Never in our wildest dreams did we think we could find someone like Rabbi Susan
Wow. I can't even begin to describe how the decision to work with Rabbi Susan changed the trajectory of our special day for the better. Not only is the service she provides unique in the local area, and that alone is reason enough to work with her, but in marrying us and becoming our Rabbi, she has left a permanent, beautiful mark on the lives of me and my husband, and both our families.
Her care and attention to detail is unparalleled, and I can't even begin to imagine the work she put in behind the scenes to create such a personalised, meaningful service which was tailored to our interfaith traditions, and values as a couple. It was perfectly-pitched, explaining any Jewish traditions, and translating all Hebrew elements in a way that was accessible yet unobtrusive.
She truly went above and beyond, recommending us chuppah vendors and even tutorials on making our own when we couldn't find one available, and accompanying me to the mikvah - which was an incredibly meaningful experience.
Having her at the helm of our wedding meant the day was more meaningful than any of us could have hoped for. We couldn't have imagined the day without her; she was integral part of our experience of getting married - from well-before the wedding itself, and I'm certain, ongoing into the future.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to her - you will not be disappointed if you do.
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Dear Astrid and Cameron,
Thank you for this glorious review. "Working" with you, getting know you and the beautiful interior of your relationship was truly a pleasure and a privilege. I loved the venue that you chose and the beautiful and meaningful wedding ceremony we co-created was exactly perfect for you, for the time and the place.
You are an amazing couple, so much in love and so very adventurous. You inspire me. The personal words of intention and commitment you spoke to each other brought tears to my eyes. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity you gave me.
Daniel R. Married on 20/11/2021
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Absolutely wonderful experience!
We got to know Rabbi Susan well, not just over one year but two, as our wedding was postponed due to Covid. She worked with us collaboratively to craft a beautiful ceremony which we ended up having with only family present. Beyond the ceremony itself, we can't stress enough how valuable her one-on-one sessions were leading up to the wedding. We suspect a lot of couples get married without deliberating on the fundamental values that sustain a marriage - through our sessions she helped us articulate these values which was reflected in our ketubah and ceremony. We are so grateful to have had Rabbi Susan to lead us through this transformative time in our lives. As she says, we will always have her as our Rabbi, which means the world to us.
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Dan and Jess, you are, in many ways, my “ideal couple”. Your love for and commitment to each other is awesome and your willingness to work deeply with me was inspiring. You knew exactly what you wanted and never for a moment forgot exactly who the ceremony was for (the two of you). It was a pleasure and a privilege to be your wedding officiant and I look forward to being your rabbi for many years to come.
Meaghan Married on 09/10/2021
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An incredible experience!
Rabbi Susan was so incredible to work with. She listened to everything we wanted and designed the ceremony of our dreams that was very meaningful to both of our families. She was so flexible and helped us work around Covid-19 so we could still celebrate our special day. I cannot recommend her enough.
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Thank you Meaghan for this warm and heartfelt review. You and Brandon are an awesome couple. You navigated the shoals and disappointments of Covid-19 with grace, humour and love. I felt privileged to celebrate your big day with ceremony that was entirely unique to you and your circumstances. I look forward to Part 2!!
Kristin Married on 09/08/2021
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Interfaith ceremony of our dreams
Rabbi Susan does not just "show up." She worked with meticulous care and attention to the complex details of our relationship and how we envisioned them being expressed in our interfaith ceremony. We were challenged to find a rabbi who would officiate the ecumenical ceremony we desired uniting our Jewish and Catholic traditions, and Rabbi Susan was the only person we could seem to find in Canada who would help us fulfill this in the way we needed. She has a deeply informed spiritual practice, sage wisdom, a strong outlook on life, an impeccable sense of organization, and most of all, an open mind and heart. In our three sessions together, we experienced a perfect balance growing between 1) knowing we were in the hands of a seasoned "professional", and 2) building trust and guidance in a new "friend". We have been re-watching our ceremony video, and every time we do, it further drives home what a wonderful role she has played in our marriage.
Rabbi Susan Shamash's reply:
Kristin and Justin, Thank you so very much for this very meaningful review. I appreciate it very much. It was such a joyful and deeply meaningful journey ... Spending the past few months getting to know the interior beauty of your relationship and of the two of you allowed me the blessing of standing under the chuppah with you with authenticity and great delight at the confluence of some of the most intimate expressions of Jewish tradition and the gorgeous inclusivity of a big tent Judaism that celebrates our Jewish-adjacent partners. As I watched your ceremony video and saw the expressions on your faces, I understood again how important my "work" is in the world. That is my Torah!
