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The chuppah is a Jewish wedding canopy that represents the couple's first home together. After the wedding, it can become a wall hanging or a bedspread, or be loaned to family and friends for their weddings. Some couples have also raised their chuppah for a baby-naming or brit milah ceremony.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What happens to the chuppah after the wedding | It can become a wall hanging or a bedspread. Some couples loan theirs for weddings of family and friends, and some have raised their chuppah for a baby-naming or brit milah ceremony. |
What You'll Learn
The chuppah is kept as a wall hanging or bedspread
The chuppah is a Jewish wedding canopy, held up by four poles, under which the couple stands during the ceremony. The cloth canopy and the four poles symbolise the home that the couple will build together. The chuppah is open on all four sides, representing the open hospitality the couple will extend to their guests in their new home.
After the wedding, the chuppah can be kept as a wall hanging or a bedspread. It can also be loaned to family and friends for their weddings or used for a baby-naming or brit milah ceremony.
The chuppah is a sacred symbol of God's presence at the wedding and in the home being established under the canopy. The divine name is said to hover above it, sanctifying the space below. The chuppah also represents the shelter and privacy of the home that the couple will create following their marriage. The couple stands at the centre of the chuppah, with the walls formed by those closest to them—their friends and family.
The chuppah is usually made of a tallit or prayer shawl, which is often a gift from the bride's family to the groom. However, any fabric can be used, and the chuppah can be personalised to celebrate diverse family cultures. For instance, it can be made from an Indian sari, a Scottish tartan, a lace mantilla, an African textile, or a Native American blanket.
The chuppah is also a reminder that the basis of a Jewish home is the people within it, not material possessions. It symbolises hospitality, with its four open sides inviting guests to feel included in the ceremony. In a spiritual sense, the covering of the chuppah represents the presence of God over the covenant of marriage.
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It can be loaned to family and friends for their weddings
A chuppah is a canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony. It is a symbol of the home that the couple will build together, with the four poles representing the walls and the canopy representing the roof. The open sides of the structure represent the hospitality that the couple will extend to their family and friends.
After the wedding, the chuppah can be loaned to family and friends for their weddings. This is a common practice, and it is a way to include loved ones in the special day and honour the tradition of the chuppah. It is also a way to save money on wedding costs, as renting or purchasing a chuppah can be expensive.
If you are planning to loan your chuppah to others, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it is important to plan ahead and make sure that the chuppah is easy to transport and set up. You may also want to consider the materials used to make the chuppah. For example, bamboo poles are both lightweight and attractive. It is also a good idea to measure the venue ahead of time to ensure that the chuppah will fit. Additionally, be sure to communicate with the couple beforehand to ensure that they understand the significance of the chuppah and are comfortable with including it in their ceremony.
Loaning your chuppah to family and friends is a wonderful way to continue the tradition and create meaningful connections with loved ones. It is a symbol of love, hospitality, and the home that a couple will build together.
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It can be used for a baby-naming or brit milah ceremony
The chuppah is a Jewish wedding canopy under which a couple stands during their wedding ceremony. It is a symbol of the home that the couple will build together and represents hospitality to guests. The chuppah is open on all four sides, signifying the open hospitality the couple will extend to their family, friends, and acquaintances.
After the wedding, the chuppah can be used for a baby-naming or brit milah ceremony. The baby-naming ceremony is a celebration of the birth of a daughter and her entry into the Jewish community. Rabbi A. Frank's baby-naming ceremony takes place under the baby chuppah, resembling the wedding day chuppah. The baby girl is wrapped in a traditional tallit belonging to a family member, and surrounded by family and friends.
The brit milah ceremony, also known as the bris, is a religious ritual through which male babies are formally welcomed into the Jewish community. It involves the ritual of circumcision, which is carried out by a mohel, a person trained to perform the procedure. The circumcision is followed by a celebratory meal. The chuppah is often painted or embroidered onto wimpels after a boy's brit milah ceremony, symbolising a wish for the boy's life to be under the guidance of God and for him to have a traditional marriage and family.
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It symbolises the couple's first home
The chuppah is a canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony. It is a symbol of the couple's first home together.
The chuppah is open on all four sides, symbolising the hospitality the couple will offer in their home to their family, friends, and acquaintances. The open sides also allow all guests to feel part of the ceremony. The four poles of the chuppah are said to represent the four rivers that surrounded the Garden of Eden in the biblical story.
The chuppah is also seen as a sign of God's presence beneath the canopy. The cloth canopy and four poles symbolise a Jewish home. The chuppah is intentionally unfurnished, reminding us that the basis of a Jewish home is the people within it, not material possessions.
The chuppah is a decisive act that permits the couple's new status of marriage to be actualised. It is the legal conclusion of the marriage process, marking the groom's ownership of the home and his new responsibilities towards the bride.
The chuppah is required only for the nuptials, but with today's elaborate chuppot, many couples choose to have the entire service under the chuppah.
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It is a symbol of God's presence at the wedding
The chuppah is a Jewish wedding canopy under which the couple stands during their wedding ceremony. The canopy is supported by four poles and symbolises the home that the couple will build together.
The chuppah is open on all four sides, symbolising the open hospitality that the couple will give in their home to their family, friends and acquaintances. This openness also represents the importance of the couple's involvement in their community, family and friends.
The chuppah is also a symbol of God's presence at the wedding. The tabernacle built in the desert to house the presence of God is described as a bridal canopy. It is said that the divine name hovers above the chuppah, sanctifying the space below. Some rabbis invite couples to stand inside the chuppah after the ceremony to reflect on or anticipate their own weddings.
The chuppah also represents the protective blanket of God and the presence of special people who have died or could not attend the wedding. During the ceremony, the chuppah can be a good time to offer a moment of silence to remember these people.
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Frequently asked questions
A chuppah is a canopy held up by four poles that a Jewish couple stands under during their wedding ceremony. It is open on all four sides to represent the hospitality the couple will share in their home.
The canopy is often made from a tallit (prayer shawl) that belongs to a member of the couple or their families. However, any material can be used, such as silk, quilted cloth, or even bamboo.
The chuppah symbolises the home that the couple will build together. It also represents God's presence at the wedding and in the home being established under the canopy.
After the wedding, the chuppah can become a wall hanging or a bedspread. Some couples loan theirs for the weddings of family and friends, and some even reuse it for a baby-naming or Brit Milah ceremony.
