Dec 19, 2007

Jewish wedding ceremony - Found on Flickr


There are many articles online describing the proceedings at a Jewish wedding. As you very well know, however, a picture tells a thousand words. Here's a visual overview of the main elements of a Jewish wedding. (All images are compiled from Flickr.com)

Ketubah is signed before the ceremony. In this picture, one of the two witnesses is signing the Ketubah.


Following the completion of the Ketubah and amidst vivacious (except for Liubavitch Chassidim who sing the Alter's nigun) singing and dancing, the Groom is lead to the Bride for the Bedeken - the Veiling ceremony, whereupon he will place her veil over her face.


After the Badeken, its time to walk down the isle to the Chuppah, which is symbolic of the new couple's new home that will have its conception here. The image below is of the groom (who is wearing a white Kittel) being waked by his parents with candles in their hands to the Chuppah.


Under the Chuppah, the Bride walks around the Groom seven times.


At this point we're going to need some wine. Wine is used for the blessings recited under the Chuppah by officiating Rabbi and some honored guests.


A Chuppah can be nothing more than a Tallis held up by four poles (as in the image below), under which on of the relatives is saying a blessing in Hebrew over a cup filled with wine.


The Bride and the Groom are given to drink from the Cup with the blessed wine.

All that's left to complete the ceremony is to break a glass as a sign that the destroyed Temple is always in a Jew's heart. The glass cracks at exactly the same instant as the guests scream out 'Mazel Tov' (perhaps it's the other way around.)




...MAZEL TOV!!!! Let the party start!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

THE kiddush cup is a symbol.
I invite you to look my art gallery where i make handmade kiddush cup made of olive wood and silver

David