The purpose of marriage in the Bible is for companionship and
procreation. In the past, they were usually arranged by parents, but the bride's
consent was asked.
Jewish weddings can occur any day of the week except the
Sabbath, Jewish festivals, the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the
9th of Av, and the "sefirah" period Passover & Shavuot (Lag Ba-Omer
and other exceptions).
It
is customary for the bride to wear white and a headdress & veil. Jews from
oriental countries wear elaborate costumes richly embroidered. The groom may
wear a "kitel" (a white garment) along with a tallit (see right.)
Before the ceremony, the groom, in the presence of witnesses,
undertakes an act of "kinyan" (the obligations of the Ketubah). This
is done by taking a handkerchief or some other object by the Rabbi, lifting it
and returning it. The groom and witnesses then sign the Ketubah.
The groom is then led to the "Huppah" by two male
relatives facing Jerusalem. The bride is led in by the Mothers usually to the
accompaniment of a blessing of welcome chanted by the Rabbi. Sometimes the bride
is led in 7 circles around the groom to ward off evil spirits.
The bride stands to the right of the groom and the Rabbi
recites the marriage blessings over a goblet of wine. Both the bride & groom
then drink from the glass. The groom places the wedding ring on the forefinger
of the bride's right hand and recites the marriage formula. The "ketubah"
(marriage contract) is then read and the 7 marriage benedictions are recited.
In most ceremonies, the groom then crushes the glass under his
right foot and the Rabbi invokes the "priestly blessings". The couple
is then escorted away.
: The term was originally
referred to as the bridal canopy or bridal chamber. It consists of a cloth
spread on four staves. The cloth can be of an elaborate design or a large Talis
may be spread over the staves.
The Ring: It has become universal
Jewish practice to use a ring, except in a few communities where a coin is used.
The ring must belong to the bridegroom and be free of any precious stones. In
the ceremony, the groom gives the ring to the bride as an act of acquisition and
the bride, by accepting it, becomes his wife.
Ketubah: It is a document recording,
in Aramaic, the financial obligations which the husband undertakes toward his
wife in respect of their marriage. It was instituted for the purpose of
protecting the woman so that the husband would not find it easy to divorce her.
