Jewish wedding ceremonies and receptions are rich with culture and traditions that celebrate the young couple s new journey together. These traditions can differ greatly between Orthodox and non-Orthodox synagogues, but there are several customs you can expect at almost any ceremony. The decision of how many traditions to include in your ceremony and reception is up to the couple and their families, but we have explained some of the most popular here.
The B deken. Before the wedding ceremony begins, the father of the bride, father of the groom and all the groomsmen will lead the groom to the bride s room. There the bride will be waiting with her female family members and bridesmaids. When the groom arrives, he places the veil over the bride s face to set her apart from the other women and to signify that he is interested in her spiritual beauty more than her physical beauty. It is also said, this tradition began in biblical times after Jacob was tricked into marrying the wrong woman. The groom is said to place the bride s veil over her face to ensure she is in fact the woman he expected to marry.
The Procession. This is the first place guests will notice a difference between a Jewish ceremony and a Christian one. Both the bride and groom will be accompanied by their parents when they walk down the aisle. Normally, the procession starts with the rabbi, then the grandparents, the groomsmen, the groom and his parents, the bridesmaids, a flower girl, a ring bearer and finally the bride and her parents will walk down the aisle. At the end of the procession, it is common for the bride to circle the groom seven times to signify her commitment to him.
The Chupah. Instead of an alter, the bride and groom will be married under a small structure called a chupuah or a canopy supported by four poles. This dates back to the biblical story of Abraham and Sarah and is said to symbolize the couple s new home which is always open to guests.
The Ceremony. Jewish wedding ceremonies are divided into two parts the Kiddushin and the Sheva B rachot. During the Kiddushin, a greeting is said to the guests, then the rabbi blesses a cup of wine from which the bride and groom both drink. This is also the time when rings are exchanged. The bride and groom will place a ring on the other s right index finger, as that is thought to be connected to the heart. Often, the couple will move the rings to traditional ring fingers after the ceremony ends. In the Sheva B rachot, seven blessings are said for the bride and groom. This can be done by a rabbi or family members and friends can each say one blessing.
Breaking the Glass. Nothing signifies a Jewish wedding more than sound of shattering glass at the end of the ceremony. Some believe it symbolizes that the marriage will last as long as the glass is broken. Others say it honors those who are suffering and is a reminder of the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem. After the glass is broken, you will hear a lively round of Mazel Tov come from the guests, which means good luck .
The Hora. This is another iconic part of all Jewish weddings when the bride and groom are hoisted up on chairs while the guests joyfully sing Hava Nagila. The tradition is said to have derived from a time when members of royal families were carried on chairs.
The Mezinkle Tanz or The Krenzel. This happens when the last daughter in the bride s family has been married. The mother and father of the bride sit on chairs in the middle of the dance floor and the mother is given a crown of flowers to wear. The guests will dance around the couple and kiss them as they go by.
Should you choose to include some of these great traditions into your wedding ceremony, consider putting an insert in your program that explains what the guests will see. Likely, there will be at least one or two guests who are not familiar with Jewish wedding customs and they will enjoy the ceremony much more if they understand the rich history behind what they are seeing.
Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained
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