How to Honor Jewish Wedding Traditions

Jewish wedding traditions are some of the most beautiful and meaningful in the world. These ceremonies are rich in heritage and rely on symbolism and the completeness of ritual rather than ornate settings and gestures. From the greeting of the guests to the breaking of the glass, the day honors not only the bride and groom, but Jerusalem as well.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Plate
• Chuppah
• Wine
• Rings
• Ketubah
• Glass

1. Celebrate the Jewish ritual of Kabbalat Panim. This is when the bride and groom receive the guests in separate rooms. The groom (called the chatan) and bride (the kallah) are treated like royalty by the guests. Traditions at the Kabbalat Panium can include toasts, readings, blessings and singing.
2. Adhere to the traditional breaking of the plate. This is performed by the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride. The two stand together and break a plate to represent the necessity of keeping a relationship whole. A broken plate that can never be completely repaired symbolizes a relationship that once broken is never fully mended.
3. Honor the traditional veiling of the bride by the groom. The groom, along with his family and close friends, approaches his seated bride and lowers the veil over her face. Historically, this action represents the new husband's promise to clothe and protect his wife.
4. Perform the wedding ceremony under the chuppah. This canopy opened on all sides is the traditional shelter under which the wedding takes place. For a beautiful personalized chuppah, visit the My Own Chuppah website (see Resources below).
5. Perform the Jewish ritual of having the bride circle her groom seven times once they are under the chuppah. This can be representative of the establishment of the couple's new world together, with seven symbolizing the 7 days of the world's creation, as documented in the book of Genesis.
6. Respect the blessing of the wine and the giving of the ring. The rabbi will make two blessings over a single cup of wine, from which the bride and groom will each take a sip. Then, the groom will put a simple gold ring on his bride's index finger and recite a traditional short blessing proclaiming betrothal.
7. Witness the reciting of the ketubah, which is the marriage contract. The contract is signed by witnesses and is a legal document. The bride will keep the ketubah and honor it by displaying it in her new home. Look at the Ketubah website to purchase a traditional ketubah (see Resources below).
8. Enjoy the reciting of the Seven Blessings by the rabbi or other honored guests. This tradition takes place over a second cup of wine, which the bride and groom will sip from following the conclusion of the blessings.
9. Honor the traditional breaking of the glass. The groom should shatter this glass with his foot as a symbol of remembrance of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. This act also signals the end of the actual wedding ceremony.

Tips & Warnings

• Refrain from seeing one another for a week prior to the wedding. This is one of the Jewish traditions that heightens the romance and excitement of the occasion.