Traditions

Glossary Of Jewish Terms   ALYAH: a Torah honor, literally, “going up” (to the reader’s desk) to read a portion of the Torah text ASKENAZIC: those Jews whose traditions and customs original from Central and […]

The Ketubah Text Ketubah: Is a document recording, in Aramaic, the financial obligations which the husband undertakes toward his wife in respect of their marriage. It was instituted for the purpose of protecting the woman […]

The Ketubah The Ketubah is a Jewish legal document confirming the religious bond of your union. It does not replace a standard civil marriage license which the officiating Rabbi will need in order to perform […]

Breaking of the Glass The breaking of the glass at the end of a wedding ceremony serves as a reminder of two very important aspects of a marriage. The bride and groom – and everyone […]

The Wedding Ring The giving and accepting of an item of value in the presence of witnesses is the most important part of the Jewish wedding ceremony. It has become almost universal Jewish practice to […]

Veiling Of The Bride After the signing of the Ketubah, a short ceremony called Bedeken – the veiling of the bride – takes place. In Genesis 24:60, it describes the story of Rebecca’s first meeting […]

The Wedding Procession The custom of escorting the bride and groom to the Chuppah is an ancient one. Throughout Jewish history, brides and grooms have been compared to kings and queens, who always appear with […]

The Chuppah The central symbol of the wedding is the Chuppah or wedding canopy under which the bride and groom stand. The Chuppah, representing the home they will establish together, has four corner posts but […]

Selecting a Wedding Date The selection of your wedding date will, to some extent, reflect your personal priorities. You will also need to take into account schedules and prior commitments of the clergy, as well […]