Customs & Traditions of a Jewish Wedding

Written by Chana Karden

The purpose 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 "kittel" (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.