testimonials
Rabbi Hanniel is the best decision you can make for a wedding rabbi. So many guests raved about him and asked us where we found him -- he was that good! He kept our ceremony spiritual, accessible to all denominations, and interactive. We couldn't recommend Rabbi Hanniel more.
— Marlo
Rabbi Hanniel Levenson understood the essence of our connection, set the perfect tone for our interfaith ceremony and energized our ceremony with a unique balance of fun, openness, and ritual. Notably, he created a palpable bond between the guests, ourselves, and himself. The moment the ceremony began, he made eye contact with us and immediately put us at ease. Having been guests at many other weddings, never before had we felt that everyone in attendance was spiritually present and in the moment with us under the chuppah, and that we were all one being, celebrating and sharing in a love between two people. Leading up to the wedding, he conducted our Zoom sessions in a humble and open manner. We truly felt that he wanted to get to know us as individuals and as a couple. If you are lucky enough to have him as your officiant, you will be blown away, Our guests repeatedly came up to us after the ceremony to rave about how amazing he was. We cannot recommend him highly enough.
— Nina & Arkell
If you’re looking for a Rabbi you don’t know well to stand up in front of your closest friends and family and talk in opaque generalities about your love, and sing the prayer over the wine breathing bad temple breath all over your white wedding gown, unfortunately Hanniel is not your guy. But if you instead want to venture on a spiritual journey (religious or not is your call) with the love of your life, and find new meaning in both your relationship and yourself in a completely no-pressure environment, well then you’ve come to the right place. Hanniel brings the excitement of that special chance encounter you experience with a stranger, with the well-worn comfort of a decades-long friendship, somehow culminating in a service that will fit you and your spouse like a fitted sheet. Trust us when we say you will only regret it if you don’t use Hanniel for your wedding.
— Colby and Martin Rothman
Hanniel was such a special part of our wedding ceremony. He brought so much love, spirituality, and uniqueness to our beachfront vows. His energy was incredible and we greatly enjoyed working with him. We can't imagine anyone else having married us. We highly recommend Hanniel!!!
— Jasmine K.
I first met Hanniel when he kicked off a spontaneous, accordion-led rendition of “Your Love Is My Love” at my cousin’s wedding in the Hamptons and I immediately thought “who is this guy and how can I have him in my life?”. Two years later, after I got engaged and my wife indicated that she wanted to convert to Judaism, Hanniel was my first call. He and my wife hit it off immediately, likely owing to Hanniel’s multi-faceted approach to Judaism with echos of study in environmental science, lived experience in Israel and appreciation of music as the voice of the soul. That conversation kicked off months of Jewish study — as much a reconciliation for me as it was a conversion for her — culminating in a Jewish wedding ceremony that felt absolutely transporting for everyone in attendance, the religious and non-practicing alike, under Hanniel’s deft guidance. For whatever your spiritual journey, we cannot recommend Hanniel highly enough.
— Michael R
Hanniel held his own very well as the officiator of my wedding. Hi, Jewish groom with a gentile bride, here. Was the wedding non-denominational? Was it actually Jewish? We don’t know, and we didn’t give Hanniel a clear answer. Hanniel navigated the slight complications of this whole dynamic with real grace, while still holding true to his own spiritual existence and perspective. He also had a bold presence that caught people’s attention. This boldness was not only a force for good during the ceremony, but also a boon at the reception afterwards, where Hanniel was a fun party guest. Be prepared for a rather personal questionnaire and consultation from the rabbi beforehand. He didn’t seem like he was just gonna wed someone off the street.
— Samuel B.
Hanniel was a fantastic rabbi for our wedding ceremony in New York. He came highly recommended by other friends/family, and we were very fortunate to have him. He worked with us on crafting the ceremony the way we wanted it to be, and was very open minded with our suggestions while still maintaining traditional Jewish customs. One of the best parts was the pre-marital counseling he provided, where he came to our apartment and spoke with us about common issues or concerns couples have before getting married. He listened to us and helped to coach us during these discussions. He also used these stories as anecdotes during our ceremony to make it more personal. The ceremony itself was conducted partially in english to be inclusive of all guests, and was very spiritual and moving with a refreshing, youthful energy. We had multiple people express how impressed they were with him after the ceremony, as were we! We can't recommend him enough.
— Michelle G.
Rabbi Hanniel Levenson officiated our wedding on September 7, 2019. My husband and I did not have a rabbi from our childhood that we felt close to and we wanted someone to officiate our wedding that meant something to both of us. We were introduced to Hanniel by our close friend and we first met Hanniel at a coffee shop. We immediately clicked and it felt like we had known Hanniel for years. During that first meeting we just chatted and got to know each other and the conversation was relaxed - we truly had fun! When we left my little husband and I both knew that he was the right choice for our special day. We met with Hanniel multiple times leading up to our wedding and each time we met we became more and more thankful we were having Hanniel officiate our wedding. He made all of the planning for the ceremony simple, efficient and completely stress free. He helped us design and review personal programs for the ceremony and figured out ways to incorporate all of our special requests. Fast forward to our wedding ceremony - Hanniel exceeded all expectations! It was truly a special, heart warming ceremony unlike any other we had ever attended. I am not just saying that because it was our weeding. So many of our wedding guests said it was the best wedding ceremony they ever attended. They said they actually felt as though they were a part of the ceremony and not just a spectator. Even the bride’s father who is very conservative said that Hanniel conducted the most perfect ceremony - the perfect mix of religion, love, humor and life lessons. People still talk about our ceremony and my husband and I still remember the lessons Hanniel taught us along the way. We cannot recommend Hanniel enough for a wedding ceremony and we cannot wait to work with him again for future events in our life!
— Amanda R.
Hanniel was such a wonderful part of our wedding and wedding process, from meeting early on with us to share wisdom on spirituality, partnership, and judaism for us, to our civil wedding which he officiated in Brooklyn and our larger wedding ceremony in Curacao. Hanniel made both ceremonies truly beautiful, inclusive to everyone and most importantly very personal to us. He is such a wonderful teacher and human being and I highly recommend his services for weddings and beyond.
— Jonna G.