Jewish Wedding Ceremony, Traditions, Customs, Vows, Rings, Music, Blessings, Invitations and Programs

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Jewish Wedding Ceremony, Traditions, Customs, Vows, Rings, Music, Blessings, Invitations, Programs - Flush Mount Photo Albums

The Jewish wedding is a Jewish religious marriage ceremony. A marriage once consisted of two distinct events - the betrothal (erusin) and the actual act of marriage (nissu'in). These events are now amalgamated. Both erusin and nissu'in are performed in the presence of a minimum of two witnesses. After signing the ketuba or marriage contract, the bride and groom are led to the huppa. The groom gives the bride a ring and recites a blessing. The ketuba is read aloud and Sheva brachot are recited. At the end of the ceremony, the groom steps on a glass. The couple then spends a few moments alone before rejoining the wedding party.

In traditional Jewish literature marriage is actually called kiddushin, which translates as "sanctification" or "dedication." "Sanctification," indicates that what is happening is not just a social arrangement or contractual agreement, but a spiritual bonding and the fulfillment of a mitzvah, a Divine precept. "Dedication," indicates that the couple now have an exclusive relationship, that involves total dedication of the bride and groom to each other, to the extent of them becoming, as the Kabbalists state, "one soul in two bodies."

Jewish Wedding Traditions

The Jewish Ketubah

Traditional Hebrew wedding ceremonies begin with the bride and groom signing a marriage contract, called the Ketubah. The agreement, which once assured the bride's legal status, states the expectations and duties of the couple once they are married. This beautiful, ornate document will be framed and displayed in the couples' home.

After the couple have signed the Ketubah, the groom lowers his bride's wedding veil after studying her face. This wedding custom recalls the biblical story of Jacob, who married the wrong woman when she covered her face with a veil.

In the Jewish tradition, the wedding ring should be simple, a band with no details, no stones, and nothing engraved, with nothing to distinguish the beginning from the end. The rabbi, groom, groomsmen, and Jewish male guests traditionally wear a white-colored cap called a yamulkes.

The Traditional Jewish Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony begins with a procession of the wedding party members. At the wedding site, both sets of parents escort the bride and groom down the aisle. The marriage ceremony is performed under a special canopy, called a huppah, which represents God's presence, shelter and protection.

After exchanging wedding vows, seven marriage blessings are read. The groom then steps on a wine glass, to symbolize the fragility of human happiness, a hallmark of Jewish history. It is also traditional for the bride and groom to be alone together for a few moments immediately after the ceremony. This tradition, called yichud, originated so that the marriage could be consummated, but now it is observed as a lovely time to be together before the reception. There is rarely, therefore, a receiving line at a Jewish wedding.

Favorite Jewish Wedding Dances

Wedding receptions are joyous celebrations, with much singing and many traditional dances. A lively Israeli dance called the Hora is performed at the wedding reception. While they hold on to either end of a handkerchief, bride and groom are lifted into the air on chairs by their joyful guests, as they are celebrated as 'king and queen of the night'.

A lovely Jewish custom called the "Krenzl" -- which means 'crowning' honors the bride's mother when her last daughter is wed. The mother is seated in the center of the room and is crowned with a wreath of flowers, then all her daughters dance around her to a very lively Yiddish song. The Mizinke is a dance of celebration reserved for both parents who have just seen their last son or daughter married. The guests encircle the mother and father, while bestowing them with wedding flowers and kisses.

Another traditional dance is called "gladdening of the bride." All of the guests at the reception circle the bride while they dance and sing praises about her.

A Jewish wedding would not be complete without a sumptuous meal to satisfy the entire wedding party and guests.

Wedding Vows: Jewish Wedding Vows

There is no actual exchange of vows in a traditional Jewish ceremony; the covenant is said to be implicit in the ritual. Ceremony structure varies within the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform synagogues, and also among individual rabbis. The marriage vow is customarily sealed when the groom places a ring on his bride's finger and says:

"Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the laws of Moses and Israel."

However, today many Jewish couples opt for double-ring ceremonies, so the bride may also recite the traditional ring words, or a modified version. The traditional Seven Blessings, or Sheva B'rachot, are also an integral part of Jewish ceremonies; often relatives and friends of the couple's choosing recites them. And because many Jewish couples today do want to exchange spoken vows, they are now included in many Reform and Conservative ceremonies.

Reform
"Do you, ______, take ______ to be your wife/husband, promising to cherish and protect her/him, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek together with her/him a life hallowed by the faith of Israel?"

Conservative
"Do you, ______, take ______ to be your lawfully wedded wife/husband, to love, to honor, and to cherish?"

Other Jewish vows
"With this ring, you are made holy to me, for I love you as my soul. You are now my wife.

"With this ring, you are made holy to me, for I love you as my soul. You are now my
husband."

From Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg

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