Not many people know about Jewish weddings. If you are attending your very first Jewish wedding or even want to host one, knowing the main traditions allow you to make the most of your time. There is meaning behind each tradition that will leave you with a sense of satisfaction. There is a basic outline that is followed in a Jewish wedding. For those of you who watched Unorthodox on Netflix, chances are that you have an idea about what a typical Hasidic wedding looks like.
Before we take a look at the traditions, it is important that you know the basics.
Basics of Jewish Weddings
- Men are required to wear a Kippah to cover their head and women tend to wear traditional attire which covers their shoulders.
- Orthodox Jewish weddings involve men and women sitting on either side. However, very orthodox weddings would have a partition between the sexes.
- The Jewish wedding ceremony lasts around 25 to 45 minutes. Depending on the readings and rituals.
- It is customary for guests to bring a gift.
Common Jewish Wedding Traditions
Aufruf
The Yiddish term “Aufruf” means “to call up”. It is an event that is held before the wedding ceremony wherein the couple is called to the Torah to receive blessing. The rabbi recites the Torah to give blessings. It is customary for the attendees to throw candies towards the couple as it indicates a sweet and happy married life.
Fasting
The day of the wedding is known as a day of forgiveness. Therefore, it is common for couples to fast on their wedding day, similar to Yom Kippur. The fast lasts until the couple shares their first meal together once the wedding ceremony comes to an end.
Bedeken
Another tradition involves the ketubah signing wherein the groom approaches his bride for the veiling. He looks at her before he veils her face. It symbolizes love for the inner beauty of the bride. The tradition started after Jacob was tricked into marriage with the sister of the woman whom he had loved.
Circling
An Ashkenazi tradition that continues to be practiced today is circling. The bridge is required to circle around the groom three to seven times under the chuppah. It is believed to help create a magical wall that protects the groom from glances of other women, temptation, and evil spirits.
Ring Exchange
Traditional Jewish weddings require the bride to wear a wedding band that is made from platinum, silver, or gold. There are no stones. During ancient times, the wedding ring was treated as the value of the bride. The weight of the ring proved its value.
Breaking the Glass
Finally, as the ceremony comes to an end, grooms have to step on a glass inside of a cloth bag in order to break it. As the glass breaks, it serves multiple purposes. It represents the emotions that the couple will endure and the commitment to stand by each other.
Conclusion
Now that you know about some of the traditions of Jewish weddings, you can attend one without feeling like an outsider.
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