The Big, Fat Greek-ish-Jewish Surprise-ish Celebration 🎭©2023

Dee-Dee Diamond
2 min readNov 9, 2023

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Feta with Knishes, Octopus or Gefilte Fish, Pita or Bagel, Ouzo or Manischewitz?

Oh, what a surprising, delightful party I attended last Saturday night.

The gala was “A Big, Fat Greek- Jewish Engagement Party” of a mixed young & old crowd.

It introduced two American families from ancient, very different rich traditional histories. Both melded in “kosher love” … for their dear Childrens’ future together.

“They cheered with “Mazel Tov-Mazel Tov!”, “Chutzpah-Mazel Tov,” “Opa-Chutzpah!”, “Opa-Opa” Mazel Tov! Opa-L’chaim!” That made me giggle.

… It was hilarious for me.

🤣Chutzpah is not a cheer, it’s an expression for “BALLSY” …never a term used for congratulations.

😜 I silently smothered a chuckle or two. 🤔😉

To the Greek side of the Engagement Party, these were the ONLY Jewish words they knew from… (TV no doubt)! 😄

On the Jewish side their vocabulary was only what they heard in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. LOL!

“Opa! Opa!” …” Good Luck, Love, Peace & Prosperity.”

…We all feasted heartily…

After dinner, when the big, fattening cake was laid on the table to admire, I spot “Liz & Sim” written cross its white frosting, I impulsively I burst out, “Who is Sim”? 🙄

😮Liz’s taken back father pointed to the young man standing next his glowing daughter, Liz."

“His name is Brent Reed…it is not Sim”, I announce, boldly.

Liz & Brent had met thru a website for Jewish friends, which Liz entered. There she met found the love of her life. His name on the site was “Simcha”, a shortened nickname. he used for his Hebrew name. Liz called him an even shorter pet name Sim.

Her clearly uninformed family, & friends believed “Sim” was short for Seymore, or perhaps Simon.

………. The Big, Fat Wedding is Revealed…...

The obviously deeply-in -love couple, shocked the guests when they announced, (holding hands), their wedding date… Halloween 2024.

“Halloween”? both sides of the ethic families, questioned (with a moan). 😮😮😮😮😮😮

“We’re planning to make a new family tradition (in honor of my grandparents), explained Brent, having married on Halloween…so we will we, on that our favorite holiday”. 🎃🎃🎈🎈

Yaya & Nanny smiled, (Oh kids today)! LOL…😁

👵🧓👴👩‍🦳👨‍🦳👵

…The Big, Fat Greek/Jewish Engagement Party was such joyous, funny BLAST! 🧡🧡🧡💘💘💘💝

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Dee-Dee Diamond

Born & raised in Brooklyn, 80 years, ago. Interviewed by The Brooklyn Historical Society. I published a funny book called” First Stop Brooklyn” it's on Amazon.