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The Jewish wedding ceremony is unique and goes back in Jewish history for more than 3000 years, when the founding fathers of Judaism Abraham, Ithak and Jacob married their wives. The jewish wedding ceremony is all about connecting between two people that complete each other and starts a new family.
Before The Jewish Wedding Ceremony
Parent's Blessing to the Groom and Bride
The Jewish spirit is deeply based on family values, growing children up
to the point where they will start their own new family, extending
their community and growing their own children. From generation to
generation the parents bless their children to succeed and make their
own family.
The Ketubah
The Ketubah is the Jewish prenuptial agreement and states the
commitments between the husband and wife as well as stating amount of
money to be paid in case of… The Ketubah's roots are traced back over
almost 2500 years and considered a mechanism of protecting the wife.
The Ketubah document lays out the rights of the wife and the
obligations of the husband. The groom will sign the Ketubah in front of
the Rabbi and two witnesses (non-relatives of the groom or the bride)
will sign the Ketubah as well.
The Veil
Right after the signature on the Ketubah the Groom covers the bride's
face. This ceremony is called "bedeken". The groom lowers the veil
before the ceremony and he will lift the veil before the first kiss
(during the ceremony). The tradition of veiling the bride goes back to
the biblical story of Jacob that was tricked by marrying Leah, because
Leah was veiled by her father before the wedding, so in order to be
sure this won't happen, the groom himself veil the bride and states the
to the Rabbi that this is the bride he would marry soon.
The Kippah
The Kippah is a traditional small and rounded head cover, usually worn
by Jewish men in prayers and holly ceremonies such as wedding ceremony.
The purpose of the Kippah (also called: yarmulke, skullcap or kappel)
is to honor the holly ceremony and to get God's blessing for the Bride
and Groom. The act of placing the Kippah on the groom's head may be
maid by the bride right after the groom veil the bride.
During The Jewish Wedding Ceremony
Parents Role in the Wedding
Parents of the bride and the groom's parents are actually those that
lead their sons into the Chuppah. And just like the wedding ceremony
itself as they hold the bride and groom walking toward the Chuppa, as
the Jewish wedding concept is not only a union of two loving hearts,
but also continuity. The wedding is one link in a long chain of
generations in which parents play an important role in being the link
between previous generations to the new generation stands beneath the
Chuppa.
The Wedding Canopy - Chuppah
The Chuppa is made of cloth, and sometimes a Talit (the prayer shawl).
The Chuppa is stretched over four poles and symbolize the new home the
groom and bride will make. The Chuppa should be set up under an open
sky. Under the Chuppa, the actual wedding vows are taking place.
The Kiddush Cup
In the Jewish tradition, blessing is usually made on whine. The groom
and bride will share two Kiddush Caps filled with sweet whine that
symbolize their love to be sweet as the whine. The blessing on the
whine shall bless their new marriage life.
The Wedding Rings
According to the Jewish tradition, in order to get married, the Groom
must supply a valuable item, such as a ring to the Bride. The ring
should be the property of the Groom and the Rabbi asks the groom under
the Chuppah "Do you own this ring?" The ring is used as an item of
value given to the bride in order to complete the marriage contract. In
Jewish tradition the ring is paced on the index finger in the right
hand, which reflects the acceptance of the Bride (binding contract).
Most Brides remove the ring later on to the "wedding finger". The Bride
not suppose to give the Groom a Ring, but in today's modern times they
choose to do so and the Grooms accepts that during the wedding.
The Sheva Berachot
After the groom gives the bride the Ketuba, seven blessings are made
over a cup of wine. The Rabbi gives the groom to drink, and then the
groom gives the bride a drink from the glass. The seven blessings are
consists of praising God for the creation of the world, creation of man
and woman and celebrating with them in their marriage.
The Tallit
The Tallit is a Jewish prayer shawl worn in the synagogue on Shabbat
and holidays. It is made of wool and has 2 stripes on the sides of it,
the use of Tallit in Judism starts from the Age of 13 in man – in the
Bar-Mitzva and at age 12 in women at age of 12, having their Bar-Mitzva
and Bat Mitzva Talit at the wedding ceremony symbolizes the family
continuity values that is embedded deeply within the Jewish tradition.
During the wedding ceremony the Groom may cover the Bride with his own
Tallit to reflect the creation of a new family under a roof.
Breaking the Glass
The source of breaking the glass is in the Babylonian Talmud. This
custom is a reminder of the broken fragments of Creation, and the need
for the groom and bride to join together in order to build a better
world on a spiritual level.
The glass is special one, thin, wrapped in paper and easy to break in
order not to injure the Groom when he step on it in order to break it.
The breaking of the glass is the end of the wedding ceremony and this
is when everyone shouts Mazal Tov
After The Jewish Wedding Ceremony
The Yichud Room
The Yichud is a private room where the couple, now a Husband and Wife,
goes right after the wedding ceremony. The couple stay together for few
moments (while 2 people gourd the door) and share some time together
alone for the first time as Husband and Wife, this act complete their
marriage.
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