Doves At Jewish Weddings: Symbolic Meaning

Doves are a symbol of peace, healing, and hope in Jewish culture. They are also associated with purity, innocence, and new beginnings, making them a fitting symbol for weddings. In the Torah, the first appearance of a dove is in Parshat Noach, where Noah sends out a dove to see if it is safe for humans to live on the land after the flood. The dove returns with an olive branch, which becomes a symbol of peace and healing. The release of doves at a wedding is believed to symbolise the happiness, joy, and peace of the newlywed couple as they start their new life together.

Doves symbolise peace, healing and hope in Jewish culture

Doves are a symbol of peace, healing and hope in Jewish culture. The first appearance of a dove in the Torah is in Parshat Noach, where Noah sends a dove out from the ark to see if the flood waters have receded and it is safe for humans to live on the land again. The dove returns with an olive branch in its mouth, which becomes a symbol of peace and healing for humanity.

In the Babylonian Talmud, Brachot 53b, the dove is compared to the Jewish people. The passage states that even if the Jewish people are steeped in exile, they will become as exalted as the wings of a white dove, whose wings shimmer like silver and gold. The dove is also said to symbolise the mitzvot, or commandments, which protect and save Israel from harm.

Kabbalistic teachings explain that a bird symbolises the name of Hashem: the head of a bird is like the letter yud of the divine name, its body is like the letter vav, and its two wings are like the two hehs. The two wings of a bird also represent fear and love of God, with the left wing representing strength and the right side representing kindness.

Doves are also associated with the concept of fidelity and loyalty. They are monogamous birds, remaining with their mate for life, which is why they are often included in celebrations that honour lifelong commitment, such as weddings. In Jewish weddings, doves can be released during or after the ceremony to symbolise the happiness, peace and fidelity of the new union.

The name Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, can also be spelled out as 'tor' in Hebrew, which means dove. The story of Ruth's conversion to Judaism and her humility and dedication to her people is seen as the foundation for what true royalty means for a Jewish king.

Doves are associated with the qualities of the Jewish people

Doves are monogamous birds, demonstrating the qualities of fidelity and loyalty. The Talmud states that "just like a dove once she meets her mate, she never leaves him for another... so are the Jewish people faithful to G-d". Doves are also symbolic of peace, healing, and hope for a better world. The first appearance of a dove in the Torah is in Parshat Noach, where Noach sends out a dove twice to ascertain if the rain had ended and they could exit the ark. The second time, the dove brings back an olive branch, which became a symbol of peace and healing for humanity.

Kabbalistic teachings explain that a bird symbolises the name of Hashem: the head of a bird is like the letter yud of the divine name, the body of the bird is like the letter vav, and the two wings are similar to the two hehs. The two wings of a bird also represent fear and love of God: the left wing is strength and the right side is kindness.

The sages also tell us that the dove is only saved by its wings, and so too are the Jews only saved by the merit of their mitzvot. This is reflected in the passage from Psalms: "Just as the wings of a dove are covered with silver, and its pinions with shining gold, so are her feathered arrows covered with gold". The mitzvot benefit all aspects of a Jewish person, with the outer expressions of the mitzvot available to everyone, and the inner meanings understood only by great scholars.

The dove is a symbol of purity and innocence in a marriage

The dove is also a symbol of peace, a sentiment that dates back to Biblical times and the story of Noah's Ark. In the story, Noah sends a dove out from the ark to ascertain if the flood waters have receded and the earth is safe for humans once more. The dove returns with an olive branch in its mouth, which becomes a symbol of peace and healing for the future of humanity.

The dove is also a symbol of fidelity, as doves are monogamous birds that remain with their mates for life. This is why doves are often incorporated into wedding celebrations, as they represent lifelong commitment.

In Jewish literature, the dove is often used as a metaphor for the Jewish people and their relationship with God. The qualities of the dove, such as fidelity, loyalty, and innocence, are associated with the Jewish people. In the Torah, the first appearance of a dove is in Parshat Noach, where it is sent out by Noach to determine if the flood has ended. The second time the dove is sent out, it returns with an olive branch, becoming a symbol of peace and healing.

The release of doves at a wedding is a beautiful way to symbolise the happiness, purity, and innocence of the new union between the bride and groom. It is also a way to extend peace and good wishes to loved ones, as well as to honour the memory of those who have passed away.

Releasing doves at a wedding is a sign of peace

Doves are a common feature at weddings, and releasing them is a practice that is said to date back to Biblical times. Releasing doves at a wedding is a sign of peace, and this symbolism is rooted in the story of Noah's Ark.

In the story, Noah sends a dove out from the ark to determine whether the land is safe for humans to live on again after the flood. The dove returns with an olive branch in its mouth, which becomes a symbol of peace and healing for humanity's future. This is referenced in the Babylonian Talmud, Brachot 53b, where the dove is compared to the Jewish people. The passage states that even if the Jewish people are steeped in exile, they will become as exalted as the wings of a white dove.

Releasing doves at a wedding is meant to symbolise peace in the couple's home and throughout their lives together. The white colour of the doves also represents purity and innocence, as white is the colour of purity. The release of doves is a physical expression of the sentiment that the newlywed couple is starting a new life together, innocently facing the unknown.

In addition to peace, the release of doves at a wedding also symbolises fidelity. Doves are known for their lifelong commitment to their mates, making them a perfect symbol to include in a celebration honouring lifelong commitment. The release of doves during a wedding ceremony can also be done to honour the memory of a loved one who has passed away.

Doves represent fidelity and lifelong commitment

Doves are a symbol of peace, healing, and hope in Jewish culture. The first appearance of a dove in the Torah is in Parshat Noach, where Noach sent out a dove twice to see if it was safe to exit the ark. The second time, the dove returned with an olive branch, which became a symbol of peace and healing.

Doves are also associated with the Jewish people themselves. In the Babylonian Talmud, Brachot 53b states that the dove is compared to the Jewish people. The monogamous nature of doves is meant to teach that fidelity with marital partners is important, and also represents the loyalty displayed to God.

Doves are also used in weddings more generally, as they represent fidelity and lifelong commitment. When doves find a mate, they remain with them for life. White doves, in particular, symbolize the purity and innocence of the marriage, as white is the colour of purity and eternity.

At Jewish weddings, the ketubah is a symbolic marriage contract that outlines the groom's responsibilities to his bride, as well as her protections and rights. The ketubah is signed before the ceremony and then read to the guests during the ceremony. The groom then approaches the bride for the bedeken, or veiling, which signifies that his love for her is for her inner beauty, and also that they are distinct individuals even after marriage.

Frequently asked questions