How to Honor the Seven Blessings of a Jewish Wedding

The recitation of the seven blessings (the Sheva Brachot) during a wedding is an enduring tradition of Jewish couples. The blessings celebrate the creations of God, including the bride and groom and their joy. It is thought that there are seven blessings because the number is representative of new creation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Honor the seven blessings of the wedding ceremony by studying them beforehand. For translations of the seven blessings, look to such Jewish wedding books as "The New Jewish Wedding" by Anita Diamant and "Mazel Tov!: The Complete Book of Jewish Weddings" by Lea Bayers Rapp. Both titles are available from Amazon (see Resources below).
2. Honor the Jewish faith by learning the seven blessings in both Hebrew and English. Speak with a rabbi for help with the Hebrew pronunciations. Committing the blessings to memory will make them more meaningful during the ceremony, as well as throughout the marriage.
3. Plan for the seven blessings to be recited during your wedding ceremony by esteemed guests. Many couples divide the blessings between seven people who are close to them. Other couples prefer to have the rabbi or parents be the only ones to recite the blessings.
4. Print the seven blessings in Hebrew and English on stationary to be given to guests of your wedding. These will be helpful for guests who wish to follow along during the readings, and they make for meaningful keepsakes of the ceremony.
5. Repeat the seven blessings in the comfort of your own home annually. You can reaffirm the establishment of your world together every year on your anniversary by reflecting on the seven blessings recited at your wedding.
6. Honor the tradition of reciting the seven blessings at the special meals that commence for a week following the wedding. Though this tradition had ebbed for many generations, it is now beginning to be practiced more often, especially among traditionalists.

Tips & Warnings

• If the blessings will be read in Hebrew as well as English, have the readers practice the Hebrew several times during the wedding rehearsal.
• The seven blessings can be framed and displayed in the home by the bride, along with her marriage contract.