|
Customs &
Traditions of Jewish Weddings
by Anna Karden,
The Jewish Bride & More!
 The
purposes of marriage in the Bible are for companionship and
procreation. In the past, they were usually arranged by
parents, but the bride's consent was asked.
Jewish weddings can occur any day of the week except the
Sabbath, Jewish festivals, the three weeks between the 17th of
Tammuz and the 9th of Av, and the "sefirah" period Passover &
Shavuot (Lag Ba-Omer and other exceptions).
It is customary for the bride to wear white and a headdress &
veil. Jews from oriental countries wear elaborate costumes
richly embroidered. The groom may wear a "kitel" (a white
garment) along with a tallit.
Before the ceremony, the groom, in the presence of witnesses,
undertakes an act of "kinyan" (the obligations of the Ketubah).
This is done by taking a handkerchief or some other object by
the Rabbi, lifting it and returning it. The groom and
witnesses then sign the Ketubah. The groom is then led to the
"Huppah" by two male relatives facing Jerusalem. The bride is
led in by the Mothers usually to the accompaniment of a
blessing of welcome chanted by the Rabbi. Sometimes the bride
is led in 7 circles around the groom to ward off evil spirits.
The bride stands to the right of the groom and the Rabbi
recites the marriage blessings over a goblet of wine. Both the
bride & groom then drink from the glass. The groom places the
wedding ring on the forefinger of the bride's right hand and
recites the marriage formula. The "ketubah" (marriage
contract) is then read and the 7 marriage benedictions are
recited.
In most ceremonies, the groom then crushes the glass under his
right foot and the Rabbi invokes the "priestly blessings". The
couple is then escorted away.
TERMS OF INTEREST
Huppah: The term was originally referred to as the bridal
canopy or bridal chamber. It consists of a cloth spread on
four staves. The cloth can be of an elaborate design or a
large Talis may be spread over the staves.
The Ring: It has become universal Jewish practice to
use a ring, except in a few communities where a coin is used.
The ring must belong to the bridegroom and be free of any
precious stones. In the ceremony, the groom gives the ring to
the bride as an act of acquisition and the bride, by accepting
it, becomes his wife.
Ketubah: It is a document recording, in Aramaic, the
financial obligations which the husband undertakes toward his
wife in respect of their marriage. It was instituted for the
purpose of protecting the woman so that the husband would not
find it easy to divorce her.
"The
Everything Jewish Wedding Book" by Helen Latner (288
pages, Adams Media Corp., $12).
|
