Weddings, as the name suggests, are the time for celebration. As is the case in all cultures, there are various customs and traditions that need to be followed at a wedding. The same thing applies to Jewish weddings too. From wearing the religious Israeli prayer shawl to including the ritual objects in the marriage, there are various Jewish wedding traditions that you would definitely want to know about. Whether you are a knowledgeable Jew or relatively new to Judaism, check out the 5 most popular Jewish wedding traditions celebrated by couples all over the world.
1.The Chuppah
A chuppah, also known as a huppah, chipe, chupah, or chuppa, is a bridal canopy under which Jewish couples marry. It symbolizes the roof of the home that the bride and the groom will build together. From reformed to ultra-orthodox, it is a staple in almost all Jewish wedding ceremonies. It consists of a square sheet or a Jewish prayer shawl, which is stretched and attached to the four poles that are held upright by four guests. While some couples prefer to stand alone with their rabbi or officiate, there are many couples who invite their parents and grandparents to stand underneath for the marriage ceremony.
2. The Ketubah Signing
The Ketubah is a standard Jewish marriage contract that is often signed in presence of the couple’s closest family and friends and before the ceremony. It outlines the groom’s responsibilities to his bride that he will meet certain minimum human and financial conditions of marriage, which include the bride's protection and rights, and the framework should the couple choose to divorce. Since the ketubah is read during the marriage ceremony, many couples choose to frame it and hang it prominently in their home. Usually, Ketubah is a beautiful custom work of art.
3. Jewish Prayer Shawl
A Jewish prayer shawl or tallit Israeli prayer shawl is usually given by a bride to her groom as a gift for the wedding. The bride's gift symbolizes her part in cooperating with her husband and deference to God. A tallit can also be used in two other ways in a Jewish wedding ceremony:
• It can be used as the marriage canopy for the chuppah.
• During the final blessings, the couple can be wrapped in the tallit around their shoulders by the couple’s parents.
4.The Kiddush Cup
Known to be a ceremonial wine glass, the Kiddush Cup is considered as an heirloom item passed down through the generations. In a Jewish wedding, you will often find couples drinking two times from the Kiddush Cup filled with wine after a blessing is said by the Rabbi, relative or a friend. However, you may see some couples drinking only once from this cup. From simple crystal to ornate silver, a Kiddush Cup comes in a huge range of styles and designs.
5. Glass Smashing
At the end of the Jewish wedding ceremony, the custom of glass smashing takes place, which is performed by the groom. Although it has several symbolic meanings, the two of the most relevant are:
•It shows that a marriage holds sorrow as well as joy in equal parts and is a representation of the commitment to stand by one another not only in good times but even in hard times too.
• In Judaism, the completion of marriage is represented by breaking or cutting something.
To Conclude
Wedding in Judaism is considered as a part of the circle of life and a holy tradition. If you want to buy a high-quality handmade Israeli prayer shawl for a wedding, Galilee Silks is the online shop you need to look at. It has a wide collection of modern and traditional tallit collections offered in a variety of materials, such as Silk, Wool, Viscose and Polyester. Check out the one-stop online shop for tallit today!
