Facts About Jewish Wedding Tradition
Introduction ď ˝
Jewish wedding traditions are deep with symbolism. Everything from what is worn to the actions done earlier in the week has deep meaning. Marriage is looked upon as part of the circle of life and is holy. Jewish marriage and the various Jewish wedding traditions are something everyone looks forward to.
Jewish Wedding Tradition
Fasting Bedeken Ketubah Signing The Walk to the Chuppah Vows Under the Chuppah Sheva B'rachot: Seven Blessings Breaking of the Glass
Fasting ď ˝
The wedding day is considered a day of forgiveness, and as such, some couple choose to fast the day of their wedding, just as they would on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). The couple's fast will last until their first meal together after the wedding ceremony.
Bedeken ď ˝
Before the ceremony, the groom approaches the bride for the bedeken, or veiling. He looks at her and then veils her face. It also is a tradition stemming from the Bible wherein Jacob was tricked into marrying the sister of the woman he loved because the sister was veiled.
Ketubah Signing ď ˝
The ketubah is a Jewish prenuptial agreement that outlines the groom's responsibilities to his bride. It dictates the conditions he will provide in the marriage, the bride's protections and rights, and the framework should the couple choose to divorce.
The Walk to the Chuppah ď ˝
In the Jewish tradition, both of the groom's parents walk him down the aisle to the chuppah, the altar beneath which the couple exchanges vows. Then the bride and her parents follow.
Vows Under the Chuppah ď ˝
A chuppah has four corners and a covered roof to symbolize the new home they are building together. In some ceremonies, the four posts of the chuppah are held up by friends or family members throughout the ceremony, supporting the life the couple is building together, while in other instances it may be a freestanding structure decorated with flowers.
Circling ď ˝
The bride traditionally circles around her groom either three or seven times under the chuppah. Some people believe this is to create a magical wall of protection from evil spirits, temptation, and the glances of other women.
Sheva B'rachot: Seven Blessings ď ˝
They are often read in both Hebrew and English, and shared by a variety of family members or friends, just as friends and family are invited to perform readings in other types of ceremonies. The blessings focus on joy, celebration, and the power of love.
Breaking of the Glass ď ˝
As the ceremony comes to an end, the groom (or in some instances the bride and groom) is invited to step on a glass inside a cloth bag to shatter it. The breaking of the glass holds multiple meanings. Some say it represents the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.Â
Who I Am‌.. ď ˝
Aryeh Goodman is of the Jewish faith serving as a practicing Rabbi and the executive director of the Chabad of East Brunswick who provides the Jewish related facts which is important for a Jew.