David Frisch, 24, had a perfect plan to propose marriage to his girlfriend, Pami Brenner, while the two were in New York visiting her family.
He planned to kneel in the reading room of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Studies, where Brenner served as a research fellow from 2018 to 2020. He just had to get her to join him.
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The JTA news agency reported on an unusual marriage proposal, in which the intended groom studied Yiddish, enlisted the help of a professor who had previously taught his fiancée, and assisted in manipulations, while Brenner presented extraordinary challenges - precisely because she knew she was going to get engaged.
Although Brenner used to spend hours and hours in the reading room, getting the young woman to the place on Sunday was not easy.
In an attempt to persuade her to come, he enlists the help of one of her favorite professors, Aggie Lagotko, who teaches Yiddish literature.
The latter tried to persuade Brenner to come to the room claiming that new materials from a well-known Yiddish writer had arrived, but Brenner already suspected she would get engaged that day and said she did not want to miss their scheduled date in Washington Square Park.
"I sent an email to the professor and wrote to her that I was 99 percent sure I was going to get engaged, and asked if it was possible to meet any other day," and the disappointed professor passed them on to David and told him the temptation was not working.
Eventually, Brenner's sister had to put her in a cab.
When the vehicle approached the Judaism Research Center instead of the park she thought the goal was for her to examine documents and then David would propose marriage later in the day.
When she arrived at the archive, Brenner was told that a book was waiting for her, but instead of a manuscript, it was discovered that it was an album that included photographs and souvenirs from the couple's shared history.
Inside the room, which opened specifically for the engagement, Frisch waited with a ring and excited family members.
Original marriage proposal, Photo: Courtesy of the photographers and JTA
Frisch proposed part of the marriage proposal in Yiddish, no less.
"I could not do everything in Yiddish but I learned some words I had to say."
The reason for the importance of the proposal in Yiddish is that one of Brenner's goals in her research is to re-acquaint the old culture and language to as many people as possible.
Of course she told him yes.
The couple met last year while studying for a bachelor's degree at Oxford University in England.
Brenner completed a master's degree in Yiddish studies while Frisch completed a master's degree in political theory.
When he completes his degree, the two hope to return to New York - Brenner to study for a doctorate in Yiddish and retire to study law.
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