Jewish Marriage

1. Jewish Marriage as a rite of passage

2. Time • Tenakh ages for marriage overridden by Australian civil law. • Can take place on any day except the Shabbat and festivals.

3. Time • Most Jewish weddings take place on a Sunday. • Tuesday is considered a lucky day because in the creation story God said “it was good” twice.

4. Place • May take place inside a synagogue or outside. • It always takes place under a chuppah (a canopy)

5. Under the Chuppah Indoors in the synagogue or outdoors

6. Inside or

7. outside

8. The Chuppah may be simple

9. Often the Chuppah is elaborately decorated and supported by four poles covered in flowers.

10. The participants • kallah (bride) • chassan (groom) • Friends and family • rabbi (officiates) • God is present

11. A rabbi usually officiates • Though it can be any observant Jew sufficiently familiar with the requirements, because • marriage, under Jewish law, • Is essentially a private contractual agreement between a man and a woman.

12. The Charter In Judaism marriage is • the ideal human state. • rated very highly. • seen as the way to emotional and spiritual fulfilment. • desirable for both man and woman.

13. The Charter Sacred writings related to the Jewish marriage rite • Marriage is to be encouraged because • ‘it is not good that a man should be alone’ (Gen 2:18) and

14. The Charter Sacred writings related to the Jewish marriage rite • Rabbi’s strongly advocate marriage arguing that • ‘he who has no wife is not a proper man’ (B.Yeb. 62b).

15. The Charter Marriage is considered • To be the basic social institutional in Judaism. • Judaism presents the woman as the home-builder.

16. The Charter The sanctification of the home • is expressed in the woman’s special mitzvah, • the mikveh, • and all the food laws which the woman has to maintain.

17. The Charter Marriage can provide • Physical fulfilment in the form of sexual expression. • When Orthodox Judaism speaks of a sexual relationship • it means marriage.

18. The Charter The Hebrew word for marriage • Kiddushin (sanctification) expresses its sanctity. • marriage is not only a sacred relationship, • but the sacred relationship.

19. The Set Form in Jewish Marriage

20. Two weeks before the Orthodox wedding • the groom must obtain a Ketubah.

21. The couple are required • to meet the Rabbi a number of times before they marry, so he can offer advice about the meaning of marriage.

22. There is also a meeting • between the bride and the rabbi’s wife who will explain what is expected of each partner in a marriage.

23. A few days prior to the wedding • the bride will visit the mikveh to immerse herself as required by the Torah.

24. On the Shabbat before the wedding • The groom is called to the reading of the Torah. • People throw nuts and raisins or sweets on him as a symbol of a sweet life.

25. In Orthodox Judaism • On the day of the wedding • The couple fast before the ceremony, • as they prepare for a solemn as well as a joyful occasion.

26. The men, including the • ushers, arrive first. This is known as the groom’s Tish – the time when the groom, ushers and male family members gather for song and prayers before the ceremony.

27. The veiling of the bride • Carried out immediately before the processional of the bride, groom and attendants. • It takes place in another room while guests are being seated.

28. The veiling of the bride • A veil is placed over the brides eyes. • It is based on story of Jacob in Genesis 29. • Veiling the wife is a symbol of the groom’s commitment to clothe and protect his wife.

29. Sometimes it is simply • a lifting of the veil before the ceremony by the groom to check who is behind the veil.

30. The ceremony • the bridegroom is escorted to the chuppah by the fathers of the bride and groom. • The groom may already be present under the chuppah before the ceremony begins,

31. The ceremony • Or he may march down the aisle with his parents, followed by the bride and her parents. • If the groom is already under the chuppah then:

32. The bride is escorted by either her parents or • both mothers (or sometimes by her father) • The bride stands on the groom’s right.

33. Set Form – liminal The bride and groom are escorted • because Adam and Eve were escorted by angels to their wedding.

34. During the ceremony • The escorts carry candles, since Jewish custom associates light with joy. (Esther 8:16)

35. Once under the chuppah • The couple stand facing the rabbi or official conducting this part of the ceremony. • Forming a square, the fathers of the couple stand on the groom’s left and the mothers on the bride’s right.

36. Set Form – liminal The Bride then circles • the groom seven times to show this is the man she wishes to marry.

37. The number seven • corresponds with the seven times in the Tenakh where it is written “when a man takes a wife.’

38. The action also • represents the role the wife will play in creating an all-embracing, religious warmth within the home.

39. The initial blessings • are recited over wine as both partners drink from a single cup as a symbol of the shared joy and gladness over the marriage itself.

40. Giving of the ring • Groom places a wedding ring on the forefinger of the right hand where it can be displayed most clearly to the two witnesses.

41. The ring • is later transferred to the finger usually used in the country of the wedding.

42. On giving the ring • The groom says the words of consecration • “Behold, thou art consecrated to me by this ring, according to the Law of Moses and of Israel.”

43. The ring is • a symbol of eternity.

44. In Orthodox congregations • The groom does not receive a ring. • Conservative congregations follow the Orthodox form, but it is usual for the bride at this point to give the groom a ring.

45. In many reform congregations • Both the bride and groom recite the English words, “With this ring I thee wed.” • The words of both formulas constitutes the vows of Jewish marriage.

46. The couple are now • set apart from others for each other. • A lifelong commitment is implied, • but Judaism does not believe that people can promise this in vows.

47. Next the ceremony focuses on the marriage contract • The person conducting the wedding reads out the Ketubah in Aramaic and often gives an English summary.

48. In the presence of two witnesses • The groom accepts the ketubah by taking hold of a handkerchief given to him by the officiating rabbi.

49. The signed ketubah is • Presented to the bride.

50. In some Orthodox communities • The groom reads and agrees to the ketubah before the ceremony begins.