Ah, the joys of June! It’s such a beautiful time with so many Jewish couples getting married and starting their new lives together. My own wedding is like a dream. I was so nervous and shy about being the center of attention that the experience seems surreal. These days, I’m much better at appreciating the rich symbolism in Jewish wedding traditions.
The ceremony is a blend of many rituals that vary slightly by the individual community. Typically, the bride and groom do not see each other the week before the wedding. This helps to build their excitement for the day. Just prior to the ceremony, each has a reception known as Kabbalat Panim, when they greet their guests separately.
Just after this reception, the bride and groom come together, and the groom places the veil on the bride in the ritual known as the badeken. This symbolizes his love for her inner beauty over physical appearance. It also reminds us of the Genesis story in which Rebecca covered her face before marrying Isaac.
The actual wedding ceremony takes place under a white wedding canopy, the chuppah. This symbolizes the new home they will be creating together. The bride and groom are escorted under the canopy by their parents.
An interesting custom in Ashkenazic communities is the bride circling the groom seven times to create an invisible circle around their new world with each other.
Next, the wedding couple drinks from a cup of wine as the rabbi recites the betrothal blessings. What follows is the presentation of the bride’s wedding ring, and it is the defining moment in the Jewish wedding ceremony. This is because the marriage becomes official only after the groom has given the bride something of value, and the wedding ring serves this purpose.
Before placing the ring on the bride’s finger, the groom says to her, “Behold, you are betrothed unto me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel.” If the bride will be giving a ring to the groom, this is done later.
The next step is the reading of the ketubah, the Jewish wedding contract. It details the husband’s obligations to provide food, shelter, clothing, and emotional support for his wife. Oftentimes, the document is a beautiful work of art that is framed and displayed in the couple’s home.
Then comes the recitation of the “Seven Benedictions,” followed by the couple’s drinking of the second cup of wine. One of the most anticipated parts of the Jewish wedding ceremony is the groom’s stomping on the glass wine cup to shatter it. This reminds us of the destruction of the Holy Temple, a tragedy that we can’t forget even with the day’s many moments of joy. The glass shards are typically gathered up and displayed as a keepsake in a mezuzah.
The ceremony ends with everyone shouting, “Mazel Tov!” as the couple leaves the chuppa.
In this season of weddings, if you’re looking for a thoughtful way to congratulate the couple, check the Traditions Jewish Gifts’ online catalog for some great ideas. You’ll find a variety of artistic pieces – including candlesticks, mezuzahs, Seder plates, menorahs, personalized photo frames and much more – that can be used to celebrate Jewish traditions throughout the year. Your gift will be a memorable, meaningful addition to their new Jewish home.