Jewish Jubilee: Traditions and Customs For Classic and Contemporary Couples
Jan 30, 2017 01:51 PM Back
Weddings for the Jewish community have always been steeped in deep biblical tradition and have extremely significant meaning…even for modern day Jews.

Typically a traditional Jewish ceremony takes place in two phases: Kiddushin (also referred to as erusin) meaning betrothal and consisting of the couples’ sanctification and dedication (to each other); and nissuin (the actual marriage) at which point the couple officially become husband and wife and start their life (as such) together.

The Kiddushin, officially announces the couples’ intent and makes the bride- to-be off limits to all other men, to the degree that it would require a religious divorce and the nussuin unites the couple as one and is the final phase of the solemn ceremony…and takes place under the chuppah (the wedding canopy).

Contemporary couples complete the erusin during the exchange of wedding rings…or when the groom presents the bride with “some other” noted or valuable token denoting their bond and thus sealing the deal.

Also, while historically the chuppah, where the couple stands together under the wedding canopy…and the yichud, the part of the ceremony where the two were left in a room alone together were conducted separately, today they are conducted simultaneous and are often “one and the same”.
 
Signed, Sealed and Delivered: Prior to the wedding ceremony, the groom or chatan  consents to signing the Jewish marriage contract (ketubah)in the presence of two witnesses. This traditional Jewish wedding contract (which is a legally binding agreement) specifically outlines a husband’s (basic) duties to his new wife including providing her with: food, clothing and marital affections. Furthermore it is typically framed and proudly displayed in their home. According to tradition the contents of this contract are read aloud in traditional Aramaic (or in translation for today’s bride and groom0 under the ketubah….and symbolically shows the two distinct parts of the wedding.

Under Cover Ceremony: The chuppah, (or traditional wedding canopy), is where the official wedding ceremony takes place. It is symbolic of the new home being built as they unite as husband and wife.

Taking Cover:  Covering a bride’s face with a veil is especially typical of Ashkinazi tradition. The bride is then “prayed over” usually with words spoken by Rebecca in Genesis 24:60. This veiling tradition is customarily referred to as bedeken…with the veil serving as a reminder of how Jacob was duped by Jacob into marrying Leah before Rachel….however, Sephardic Jews do not make this tradition a practice.

The Family Factor: Jewish tradition suggests that the groom is walked to the chuppah  by the two fathers and the bride respectively by the two mothers. The parents known in Yiddish as untifirers means the ones to lead under.

The Circle Of Love: The bride encircles her groom three or seven times when she arrives at the chuppah. It is believed this tradition is derived from Jeremiah 31:22 where it is stated that: “ a woman shall surround a man”. Circling her groom three times is said to be symbolic of the three virtues of marriage: righteousness, kindness and loving kindness. Circling her groom seven times is a concept taken directly from the bible denoting perfection or completeness. Again, Sephardic  Jews do not engage in this practice.

Sealing The Deal: The official betrothal seals the deal usually with the groom presenting his bride with a ring. In traditional ceremonies two blessings are recited before the betrothal: The first is the blessing over wine followed by the betrothal blessing as outlined in the Talmud.  Once the blessings are completed the couple is offered the wine to taste.

Next the groom gives his bride a plain band of gold and recites the following: “Behold you are  consecrated to me with this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel” The groom then places the band on the bride’s right index finger with two witnesses (which MUST be present).

In more contemporary marriages the bride also gives her betrothed a band of gold, frequently quoting from Song of Songs: "Ani l'dodi, ve dodi li" (I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine), which is typically inscribed in the rings as well.  This modern custom is often conducted outside the chuppah so as not to confuse it with traditional wedding customs as it conflicts with traditional Jewish law.

Blessing The Union: The Sheva Brachot or seven blessings are offered by the rabbi or hazzan or by select guests which go up one by one for this extremely distinct honor. Once the blessings have been recited, the groom is offered some wine to drink. The bride is also offered a sip of wine. Frequently the wine offering to the groom is made by his new father-in-law and to the bride by her new mother-in-law. Songs are also sung during this part of the ceremony.

The Groom “Crushes” It: Once the ceremony is finalized and the bride given her ring, the groom stomps on a glass shattering it (with his right foot) while guests cheer “Mazol Tov” (Congratulations). More modern couples may replace the glass with a light bulb.

Alone At Last:  Yichud (the Hebrew term for togetherness or seclusion) is an Ashkenazi tradition that gives the bride and groom some together time and some space…leaving them alone for 10-20 minutes after the ceremony as a means to complete the chuppah ceremony. Sephardic Jews however see this custom as compromising the couple’s modesty and so it is NOT custom for them.

In Yemen…this practice was intended to give the couple enough time to consummate the wedding as is found in the writings of Isaac ben Aba Mari (c.  1122- c. 1193)

Party On: Celebrating the union is extremely important…and that means plenty of partying….and pleny of dancing. A significant tradition is for guests to dance in front of the new couple as a way to entertain them. Some traditional and “popular” Ashkenazi wedding tunes include:
  • The Krenzl, in which the bride's mother is crowned with a wreath of flowers as her daughters dance around her (traditionally at the wedding of the mother's last unwed daughter).
  • The Mizinke, a dance for the parents of the bride or groom when their last child is wed.
  • The "Horah" is a Middle Eastern/Israeli style dance[32] usually played as a second dance set.
  • The gladdening of the bride, in which guests dance around the bride, and can include the use of "shtick"—silly items such as signs, banners, costumes, confetti, and jump ropes made of table napkins.
  • The Mitzvah tantz, in which family members and honored rabbis are invited to dance in front of the bride (or sometimes with the bride in the case of a father or grandfather), often holding a gartel, and then dancing with the groom. At the end the bride and groom dance together themselves.
By The Grace Of God:  Following the meal, Birkat Hamazan, also known as grace after meals is delivered by the rabbi . Next a blessing over the wine is recited and two glasses of wine are poured into a third glass symbolizing the new and blessed union.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jewish Jubilee: Traditions and Customs For Classic and Contemporary Couples
  • Chat With Local Long Island Brides
  • Lessings Waterfront Weddings
  • Swan Club
  • Long Island Bridal Expo
  • Larkfield
  • Inn at New Hyde Park-Inn at New Hyde Park
  • Tellers An American Chophouse-Tellers: An American Chophouse
  • Honeymoons - Travel Agents-
 
Welcome New Vendors
Category
fall weddings wedding favors #splurgevssave #weddingdosanddonts #weddingplanning 2019 wedding affordable vacations after hours music armenia armenian wedding ideas autumn autumn wedding bachelor bachelor parties bachelor party bachelorette bakeries bakery bands barn wedding beach wedding beach weddings best bands best man advice best wedding bands black tie black tie wedding bouquet bridal bouquet bridal extravaganza bridal gown bridal gowns bridal hair bridal makeup bridal nails bridal party gifts bridal planner group bridal planning bridal reflections NYC bridal show bridal showcase bridal shower bridal showers bride bride and groom bride-to-be brides bridesmaid bridesmaid gifts brunch wedding cakes catering cellists centerpiece centerpieces ceremony music charitable gift chignon classic music cocktail hour cocktail hour music cocktail party code bleu comfort food cultural weddings cupcakes dance dance lessons day of coordinator decorations dessert ideas destination wedding diamond diamond promotion diamonds djs doc donation gift double ceremony edible favors elegant wedding elopment engaged engagement engagement looks engagement session english wedding traditions entertainment etiquette event decor event planning Eyebrows fade to black ny fall fall bride fall harvest fall wedding fancy wedding fantasia bridal father of the bride father of the groom favors florist flute players food stations food truck food trucks good behavior gown green wedding green weddings groom groom pampering groom style grooms groomsmen gifts guest book guitarist hair styles hairstyle harvest harvest wedding headpieces honeymoon honeymoon ideas Hotel Blocks Hotels invitation invitations invites irish weddings italian wedding customs jewish wedding traditions Kleinfeld Kleinfeld Hotel Blocks latin dance LI vineyards LIBE limos limousine liw liwedding liweddings long island long island bachelor party long island bakery long island beach Long Island Beach Wedding long island beach weddings long island bridal extravaganza long island bridal gowns long island bridal show long island catering long island diamonds long island engagement photographer long island fall wedding long island groom long island photographers long island vineyards long island wedding long island wedding dj long island wedding favors long island wedding gowns long island wedding photographer long island wedding photography long island wedding rings long island weddings makeup maltese wedding manscaping mansions marriage marriage advice marrriage mehndi menu middle eastern wedding traditions military military wedding mirror beauty ring MOTB mother of the bride multicultural entertainment multicultural wedding nail polish national bridal sales event new york city wedding dress new york city wedding salon ny diamonds nyc diamonds off premises catering outdoor celebration ovation photo booth Paris Parisian party favors party planning long island weddings patriot brides Permanent Makeup photography photos pianists program quartet Rain reception reception location remarried resort rhapsody ring bearer gift roslyn hotel russian bride russian groom sale second wedding semi formal shuttle buses signature drinks skyline southern wedding ideas spring wedding spring wedding ideas spring weddings st. patricks day string duos string quartets string trios thank you note the black horse event traditions transportation travel trolley trunk show tuxedo updo vegan wedding cake vegan wedding dessert veils vineyard vineyard wedding vineyards vintage music violinists violists wedding wedding advice wedding band wedding bands wedding beauty wedding beer selection wedding bow tie wedding budget wedding cake wedding cakes wedding centerpiece wedding coffee wedding dance wedding dances wedding dancing wedding dessert wedding destinations wedding DJ wedding donation wedding donuts wedding dress wedding drink ideas wedding drinks wedding entertainment wedding favors wedding food wedding food ideas wedding gown wedding guests wedding hair wedding hair styles Wedding Hotel Blocks wedding ideas wedding invitations wedding invites wedding kids wedding limo wedding makeup wedding menu wedding music wedding nails wedding party wedding photography wedding planner wedding planning wedding ring wedding seating wedding showcase wedding suit wedding thank you wedding tuxedo wedding wheels wedding wine wedding wines weddings weddings splurge vs. save what to wear white tie who to invite wild west wedding wine wine suggestions wine types winery winery wedding winter wedding winter wedding ideas wooden place settings #weddingbudget Aeki Beki affordable vacation after hours dj entertainment armenian wedding Aruba at home bridal shower Autumn Weddings bachelor bachelorette parties backyard weddings bakery barn wedding beach beach getaway Beach Wedding Beachfront Ceremonies best man bridal bridal accessories Bridal Expo bridal gown bridal reflections Bridal Show bridalshow bride bridesmaid ceremony music children fashion cocktail hour music country club wedding couture weddings daytime wedding decor dessert table destination wedding Destination Weddings donors unite e-ring elope engaged engagement engagement parties engagement rings english wedding escort cards event planners exotic cars fade to black new york Fall Bride fall wedding Fall Weddings favors first dance First Dance Wedding Song florist flowers gentleman groom groom groom gifts groomsmen hair high voltage entertainment honeymoon honeymoon planning hvdj hvdjsny imakeupyou Indian Weddings invitations invites irish wedding italian wedding jewish wedding letterpress LGBTQ wedding LIBridalExtravaganza live entertainment; LIW liweddings long island Long Island Bakeries long island bridal extravaganza Long Island bride Long Island Catering Halls long island engagement long island mansions long island photography Long Island Theme Weddings Long Island Wedding Traditions and Customs long island wedding venue Long Island Wedding Venues long island weddings long island weddings. liweddings Magna Sutra Makeup makeup; hair; aesthetic; airbrush; airbrush makeup; makeover; malta wedding ideas married life marryoke Mendi Microblading middle eastern wedding military wedding multicultural nails outdoor wedding Pandit perfume photo booth photogaphy place settings planning form ring bearer russian wedding Saptapadi skyline orchestras south asian weddings southern wedding spring weddings summer wedding summer weddings texas wedding Thank you Thank You Card the lombardi bride the roslyn hotel tropical wedding tuscan wedding tuxedo tuxedos unique wedding vegan viana hotel villa lombardi's vineyard Vineyard Receptions vintage weddings waterfront wedding wedding wedding advice wedding bands wedding blog wedding brunch wedding car wedding costs wedding dance wedding date wedding dates wedding dress wedding drinks wedding favors wedding food wedding games wedding gifts wedding gowns wedding guest wedding ideas wedding music wedding photography wedding planning wedding prep wedding rings wedding signature drinks wedding style wedding tradition wedding traditions wedding transportation wedding trends wedding venues wedding vows weddings wine winter wedding winter weddings
X
X
X