Ideas & Etiquette for Rosh Hashanah Wedding Invitations
Rabbis don't perform wedding ceremonies on the two days of Rosh Hashana, as this holiday, the Jewish New Year, is a time of reflection and prayer. Yet during the days which precede and succeed Rosh Hashana, Jewish couples combine life-cycle event celebrations with the season's theme of spiritual elevation. If you plan your wedding during the Rosh Hashana period, you can incorporate Rosh Hashana symbolism in your wedding invitations and proceedings.
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Elul
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Schedule your wedding during the month of Elul, the Hebrew month that precedes Rosh Hashana. Jewish wedding invitations often include words of inspiration or quotes from holy writings as part of the invitation, sometimes framing or bordering the information about the date, time and place of the wedding. Kabbala teachings indicate that those practicing the Jewish faith have heightened access to God's mercy and benevolence during the entire month of Elul. Elul is an auspicious time in which to schedule weddings.
Pre-Succot
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Plan a wedding that conforms to Jewish traditions during the month of Tishrei, the month in which Rosh Hashana occurs. You can schedule your wedding on the 11th through the 14th days of Tishrei, between the solemn day of Yom Kippur and the Succot (Feast of the Tabernacles) holiday which begins on the 15th of Tishrei. Your wedding invitation may include a Succot motif with images of the symbols of Succot, including palm branches, citrons, myrtle branches and branches from the willow tree.
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Genesis
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As the month of Tishrei draws to a close, Jewish couples again begin a season of holiday-free wedding dates. The last holiday of Tishrei, when couples continue their special efforts towards introspection and reflection which characterize Rosh Hashana, is Simhat Torah. On Simhat Torah Jews complete the yearly cycle of Torah readings, ending with the last verses of the book of Numbers, and begin again with the beginning verses of Genesis. Jews then read the entire portion of "Bereshit", the first chapter of the book of Genesis, on the Shabat following Simhat Torah. A Jewish couple can design a wedding invitation for a wedding set to take place at the end of Tishei with Biblical symbols and verses from the first chapter of Bereshit . Bereshit speaks of the Tishrei themes of renewal and the future, themes that apply to a wedding ceremony as well.
Kabbalah
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Although a Jewish couple does not marry on Rosh Hashana itself, a wedding that occurs in the Rosh Hashana season can bring kabbalistic meanings. Kabbalists believe that Rosh HaShanah is the wedding anniversary of Adam and Eve. Kabbalists derive this teaching from the Talmud (Bereishit Rabbah 14:7) which teaches that God created Adam and Eve the first day of Rosh HaShanah. After the creation, God brought Adam and Eve to their wedding canopy in the Garden of Eden. A Rosh Hashana-themed wedding invitation may include images of Adam and Eve under their marriage canopy.
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References
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