The following story was related by R’ Binyomin Zev Halpern, Rav of Khal Bais Halevy in Lakewood.
A member of his shul, R’ Daniel Carlebach produces custom kesubos with the names and other information already filled in, thus saving time at the chasunah. As part of the process, he ascertains with the families the complete names of the chassan and kallah and their fathers’, and the correct spelling of the names. The seforim discuss the spelling of various names such as ‘Bas Sheva’ and ‘Ben Tzion’. They say that they are two words that have become one name. Thus, some place a hyphen (dash) between the two words, thus connecting them, while some seforim suggest leaving a space between the two words – albeit a smaller space than usual.
Such a shaila came up recently when R’ Donni was printing a kesubah for a granddaughter of R’ Elya Brudny of the Mir Yeshiva in Brooklyn. R’ Elya was wondering how it had been spelled on the kesubah of his grandmother – after whom the kallah is named. He thus asked his uncle, R’ Yeruchem Leshinsky – also of the Mir, if perhaps he had a picture of her matzeivah. He replied, ‘I have something better; I have her actual kesubah!’’They reviewed it, and saw that ‘Bas Sheva’ was spelled with a hyphen. As they were pursuing it, they noticed something astonishing: The date of her chasunah was 6 Nissan 5683 – exactly one hundred years to the day prior to her great, great granddaughter’s chasunah! Such hashgacha pratis!
