George Boyle
Jewish wedding ceremonies are steeped in tradition and ritual, with many customs connecting modern couples to the Jewish religion and culture's vast history. While wedding ceremonies vary, here are five rituals that you may see at a Jewish wedding:
1. Signing of the Ketubah: The ketubah is a symbolic Jewish marriage contract that outlines the groom's responsibilities to his bride. It is signed by two witnesses and often takes place in a separate, more intimate ceremony before the wedding.
2. Chuppah: The wedding ceremony takes place under a chuppah, or wedding canopy, symbolizing the new home being built by the couple.
3. Bedeken (Veiling): The veiling ritual originates from the story of Isaac and Rebecca in the Torah. The groom covers the bride's face with a veil, emphasizing his interest in her inner beauty and her innate modesty.
4. Breaking the Glass: One of the most well-known rituals, breaking the glass is based on an account in the Talmud where a rabbi broke a glass to calm a rowdy wedding celebration. It also serves as a reminder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
5. Yichud (Togetherness): Following the ceremony, the couple may proceed to a private room for yichud, a short period of time for the couple to spend alone and reflect on their new relationship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Signing the ketubah | The ketubah is a symbolic Jewish marriage contract that outlines the groom's responsibilities to his bride. It dictates the conditions he will provide in the marriage, the bride's protections and rights, and the framework should the couple choose to divorce. |
| Bedeken (Veiling) | The custom of covering the bride's face with a veil originated with Rebecca, who covered her face when she met her groom, Isaac. The veil emphasizes the groom's interest in the bride's inner beauty and her innate modesty. |
| Chuppah | A canopy symbolizing the couple's new home. It is open on all sides, inviting love and community to surround the couple as they begin their life together. |
| Breaking the glass | This symbolizes the fragility and resilience of life. It is also said to be a reminder that despite the joy, Jews still mourn the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. |
| Yichud (Togetherness) | Following the ceremony, the couple may proceed to a private room to spend time alone and reflect on their new relationship. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Signing the ketubah (marriage contract)
The ketubah is a symbolic Jewish marriage contract that outlines the groom's responsibilities to his bride. It dictates the conditions he will provide in the marriage, the bride's protections and rights, and the framework should the couple choose to divorce. Ketubahs are part of Jewish civil law, so there is no mention of God blessing the union. The ketubah is signed by the couple and two witnesses before the ceremony takes place, and it is then read to the guests during the wedding ceremony.
The ketubah is usually signed in a separate, more intimate ceremony immediately before the wedding ceremony. The witnesses are usually not closely related to the couple, but family and friends will be present for the signing. The ketubah is often written as an illuminated manuscript that is framed and displayed in the couple's home. Under the chuppah, it is traditional to read the signed ketubah aloud, usually in the Aramaic original, but sometimes in translation. Non-Orthodox Jewish couples may opt for a bilingual ketubah or a shortened version to be read out.
The ketubah signing is also when the groom veils the bride in a ritual known as the bedeken. This is a moment of quiet connection and spiritual recognition between two soulmates beginning their shared journey. The custom of covering the bride's face with a veil originated with the matriarch Rebecca, who covered her face when meeting her groom, Isaac. The veil emphasises that the groom is interested in the bride's inner beauty, which will never fade, and her innate modesty.
The chuppah is a canopy that symbolises the couple's new home. It is open on all sides, inviting love and community to surround the couple as they begin their life together. In the Ashkenazi tradition, the bride traditionally circles the groom three or seven times under the chuppah. This is either to create a magical wall of protection from evil spirits, temptation, and the glances of other women, or to symbolise the creation of a new family circle. Many couples opt to circle each other to make the ancient ritual reciprocal.
How to Resize Your Wedding Ring to Fit Perfectly
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Chuppah (wedding canopy)
The chuppah, or wedding canopy, is a significant element of a Jewish wedding ceremony. It is a symbol of the new home that the couple will create together. The chuppah consists of a square cloth, usually made of silk, wool, velvet, or cotton, supported by four poles. The poles stand on the ground and are often held upright by friends or family members of the couple, symbolising the support of the community in their new life together. In other cases, the poles may be freestanding, decorated with flowers.
The chuppah is open on all four sides, symbolising the importance of the couple's involvement in their community, family, and friends. It also represents hospitality to guests, in emulation of the legendary hospitality of the couple's patriarchal forebear, Abraham. The open sides of the chuppah also evoke the sukkah, a temporary structure erected during the holiday of Sukkot. Just as the sukkah is a reminder that we are protected by God alone, so too does the chuppah symbolise God's presence and protection over the covenant of marriage.
The cloth of the chuppah may be a family heirloom, such as a grandparent's tallit (prayer shawl), or a fabric that incorporates patterns and materials that are traditional to both partners' families or cultures. Some couples even involve their guests by sending them squares of fabric to decorate, which are then sewn together to create the chuppah.
Under the chuppah, the bride traditionally circles the groom either three or seven times. This ritual symbolises the creation of a magical wall of protection from evil spirits, temptation, and the glances of other women. It also represents the bride creating a new family circle, with the groom at the centre of her world. Many couples now choose to make this ritual reciprocal, with the groom also circling the bride, or the couple circling each other, to symbolise their equal partnership.
How to Secure a $15,000 Wedding Loan: A Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions [Revised Edition]: Readings, Rituals, Music, Dances, and Toasts](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81zk-i-TnpL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Breaking the glass
The glass, usually wrapped in a cloth or napkin, is placed on the floor in front of the groom. However, today, the couple often shares the honour of breaking the glass, smashing one or two napkin-wrapped glasses. The glass can be old, new, borrowed, or blue. Whatever the couple chooses, it should be well wrapped to prevent injury.
There are many interpretations of this ritual. Some consider it a reminder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the first century, for even at the height of personal joy, we must not forget the tragedies the Jewish community has endured. Others explain that the fragile glass reminds us of the delicate nature of marriage, which must always be cared for and cherished. The fragility of the glass suggests the frailty of human relationships. Since even the strongest love is subject to disintegration, the glass is broken as if to say, "As this glass shatters, so may our marriage never break."
Loud noises are a time-honoured method for frightening and appeasing demons that are attracted to beautiful and fortunate people, such as the happy couple. Marriage is a covenant, which in Judaism is made by breaking or cutting something. At Sinai, tablets were broken; at a wedding, broken glass “cuts” the covenant. Breaking the glass also has sexual connotations, as it prefigures the release of sexual union, which is not only permitted to married couples but also required of them.
Following the ceremony, guests traditionally clap and chant "Siman tov" and "Mazel tov", Hebrew phrases that offer congratulations and good luck to the couple.
Jehovah's Witness at Weddings: What's Allowed?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Yichud (togetherness or seclusion)
Yichud, meaning 'togetherness' or 'seclusion', is a Jewish wedding custom that has been practised for several centuries. It is a standout ritual that allows the newlyweds to focus on their new partnership.
The couple retreats to a private room for a few minutes of personal time—typically between 8 and 20 minutes. The room can be anywhere, from a rabbi's study to a synagogue classroom, or even a decorated room in the groom's house. The couple is traditionally escorted by their parents, who then leave them alone, locking the door from the inside.
The yichud is a time for the couple to bond and rejoice, reflect, and take in their new reality as a married couple. It is also an opportunity for the couple to break their fast and share their first meal together, as well as exchange gifts. In more religious circles, it is the first time the couple has an opportunity for physical contact.
Witnesses, friends, or family members may guard the room to ensure the couple has complete privacy. The rabbi, along with the couple, organises the logistics of this tradition.
How to Edit Your Knot Wedding Website
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Bedeken (veiling)
Bedeken, or the veiling ceremony, is a Jewish wedding ritual that symbolises spiritual connection and recognition, as well as the beginning of a shared journey between two soulmates. The name comes from the Hebrew word "checking", which is rooted in two biblical narratives.
The first narrative is about Isaac and Rebecca. When they first meet, Rebecca lowers her veil out of modesty and humility, and Isaac is so captivated by her beauty that he falls to the ground. The second narrative involves Jacob, who was tricked by his father-in-law Laban into marrying Laban's veiled daughter, Leah.
During the veiling ceremony, the groom covers the bride's face with a veil. This custom emphasises the groom's interest in the bride's inner beauty, which does not fade with time, as well as the innate modesty of a Jewish woman. The veiling ceremony is also known as badeken in Yiddish.
Officiating Your Own Wedding: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
