Jewish Wedding
Jewish Wedding questions and answers
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Q: Is there anything different about an Orthodox Jewish wedding when one partner is a convert ?
Can any Jews tell me in regards to an Orthodox Jewish wedding or Chassidic/Hasidic wedding where either the bride or groom wasn't born Jewish but converted to Judaism, is there anything different about it? Does the convert's non-Jewish family usually attend? Is there anything specifically different about it compared to a wedding where both bride and groom were born Jewish?
A: There is no difference to the actual wedding. Non-Jewish family can attend as guests, but they cannto participate int he ceremony in any way. Thus the people holding the chuppah up all have to be Jews, any person standing under the chuppah has to be Jewish, and any designated witnesses- for either the signing of the Ketubah (marriage document) or to the giving of the ring have to be Jewish.
A note on the ketubah- it is not signed by the bride and groom- only by the witnesses. The civil legal document is signed seperately, the ketubah does not carry legal force in the civil realm, only the religious realm.
Q: In a Jewish wedding what is the signifigance of stepping on the glasses at the end of the wedding ceremony?
Where does that tradition come from? Is it a religious custom? or a geogrpahic custom?
A: There are a few reasons why the glass is broken during a Jewish wedding, and the action serves a few symbolic purposes. Originally Kabbalistic in nature, it is not specific to one region as far as I now (it is a universal custom).
Why is it done?
As the others have stated: It symbolizes the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem, but there are a few other reasons for this practice:
Weddings are a time of joy, but marriages come with both good and bad times. By breaking the glass, we remind ourselves that there is both times of happiness and sadness within a marriage.
Marriage in itself is a fragile thing, just like the glass. We should be careful in how we treat our partners in a relationship and nourish it as if it were as fragile as the glass.
The glass also serves as a reminder, that while two people are coming together in union, the world still has many problems that can be fixed by our good actions in life.
My personal favorite interpretation:
When a glass is broken, it is forever changed, just like the marriage of a couple. The process is a transforming one that changes both parties involved forever. The couple should learn about each other, and grow both individually and within the context of a relationship.
Other reasons:
- It is hoped that the couple will have children and reproduce like the many shards of glass.
Q: what should i wear to a jewish wedding?
My boyfriend's brother is extremely orthodox Jewish. he is getting married, and I'm invited to the wedding. the only problem i have is in finding something cute to wear that fits all the dress code requirements. the dress can't be black or white, and must cover my elbows, collar bone and knees. any ideas??
A: black is basically standard at orthodox jewish weddings--ALL the girls will be wearing that. however, you can find cute dresses that fit the bill--if it's a strapless dress, try layering it with a T-shirt underneath and cardigan on top, or something like that. PS I'm an Orthodox Jewish girl and haven't had too many troubles finding good dresses.
Q: Do you have to be Jewish to marry a Jewish man in a Jewish wedding ceremony?
A: according to traditional Judaism yes but some ultra liberal denominations of Judaism will preside over an interfaith marriage
Q: How do you spell the song refered to as the jewish wedding song?
I love the music and would like to have it. I do not know how to spell it, but would love to purchase it, it just sounds so full of joy. Not kidding, and would like to download it to my cell phone, so I won't hate answering it.
A: At Jewish weddings, the entrance of the bride is accompanied by a tune called baruch haba. After the ceremony there is a traditional dance called the hora. This is a circle dance, with the men circling the groom and the women circling the bride.
Another song you will hear at a Jewish Wedding is Siman Tov ("Good Tidings"). This is a classic, all-purpose good Jewish celebration song. It may be heard at the end of the ceremony and is definitely played at the reception. The words are simple "Siman tov u'mazal tov, u'mazal tov v'siman tov, y'hei lanu ul'chol Yisrael!"
The Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin may not be permitted in some synagogues and churches because of Wagner's anti-Semetic political views.
Q: What should a non-religious woman wear to a black tie orthodox jewish wedding?
A: Just dress very modestly. Avoid bright colors--an all-red dress is frowned on, but a red-patterned dress would be OK. Make sure the dress is below the knee, no bare shoulders either.
See the link below.
Q: What is the estimated number of guest at a jewish wedding?
A: I honestly have no clue other than who they invite. Whomever you invite just know that only 85-90% will show up, this is the estimated number of guest who show up to a wedding.
Q: What is the appropriate dress for a guest for a Jewish wedding held at a hotel/country club?
It's being held at the end of June.
A: I don't think the religion matters, but if you're attending any wedding, you should dress up. Suit and tie for a man and a dress for a woman.
Q: What is the meaning of stepping on a glass during a Jewish wedding or partty?
I'm curious
A: The custom of breaking a glass at the chupah is based on an event mentioned in the Talmud (Berachot 30b) where Mar, the son of Ravina, was making a wedding for his son. When he saw that the guests were becoming overly joyful, he took an expensive glass and broke it in front of them, thereby tempering their joy.
The question is, whats wrong with being happy at a wedding? Furthermore, the Talmud describes the guests as being rabbis. Presumably they were not acting in a way that would generally be inappropriate. Why did Mar the son of Ravina break the glass?
There are two basic reasons given for his desire to damper their joy. One is based on the verse "rejoice in trembling" which reveals that a Jew, even at a time of joy, should not be carried away to the extreme, which might cause him to forget "himself" and come to sin (Ran, Berachot). Another reason is as you were informed, to recall the destruction of the Temple. This is based on the verse, "I shall elevate Jerusalem above my greatest of joys" (Kol Bo, Rema Ev. HaEz. 65).
Your question applies to both of these reasons. If the breaking of the glass is intended to temper the joy and recall the destruction, why is it followed by such an outbreak of joy? Very great rabbis have also asked this question, and have concluded that people have become confused, thinking that the breaking of the glass is itself a joyous custom (Chupat Chatanim 6:3). Some have even written that the custom of saying mazal tov at the breaking is a mistake in the first place (Siddur Beit Oved). One great rabbi harshly criticized the custom and wrote that he would nullify it if he could (Sdei Chemed "zayn", 12).
If so, why does the custom continue? On a simple level, the preceding objections can be answered with the explanation that once the glass has been broken, the joy has been reduced a bit and the Temple has been recalled, and at that point the "simcha" must go on (after all, people get married, and it is a joyous occasion). The assembled then initiate this joy with the heartfelt blessing of "mazal tov!"
However, there are mystical reasons for the breaking of the glass that are more directly related to the ensuing outbreak of "mazal tov!" When a person becomes spiritually elevated (in this case the chatan and kallah), a certain negative force of judgment may be aroused against him. This judgment is deflected away from the couple and directed against the breaking glass. Emerging "unscathed" from this spiritually elevating experience, the couple is blessed "mazal tov!" (Shelah in the name of Rekanati). Some relate this to the harmful effect of "the evil eye", which may result from peoples jealousy or other negative thoughts or feelings against the chatan or kallah (Ohr Chama, derush lAdar).
Another deeper meaning to the custom is recorded in the name of the Rozhiner Rebbe. The Talmud (Sota 17b) states that if a man and woman merit it, the Divine Presence dwells between them. Rashi explains that this is based on the letters yod and hey in the Hebrew words for man and woman. However, these are only two of the four-lettered name. Where are the vav and hey? The canopy under which man and woman are betrothed becoming one is called "chupah", spelled chet-vav-pey-heh. The letters chet and pey spell "pach" which means vessel. When the glass ("pach") is broken, chet and pey are separated, enabling the remaining vav and hey of "chupah" to be united with the yod and hey of the couple, resulting in the unification of G-ds name.
Thats something to be jubilant about!
A more mystical explanation of the ceremony is that the glass represents the couple and that just as the glass, when it is broken, enters a state from which it will never emerge, it is the hope of the community that this couple will never emerge from their married state. Finally, one modern source suggests that beneath its articulated Jewish historical meaning (remembrance of the destruction of the Temple), this act has symbolic sexual-anthropological meaning. It is an obvious representation of the sexual consummation of the marriage by the breaking of the hymen. It also is an act of noisemaking employed to chase away demons that might attack the couple as they pass through that liminal period between unmarried and married status.
This evaluation of the tradition of breaking the glass is extraordinarily novel. Whether these anthropological factors actually played a role in the origins of the ceremony is difficult to say.
Q: what kind of music instruments are traditionally played in a jewish wedding for the chupa (walk down the isle)
when walking down the isle in a jewish wedding (chupa part of the wedding) what musical instruments are good to have playing and which songs?
I know its a matter of taste, but i have none :) so please give me some ideas.
Thanks
A: check out this link.. it lists.. Jewish songs and it's performer...when you click on it.. you can even hear it.
http://www.wedalert.com/songs/ethnic/jewish.asp
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I found this question from yahoo questions...
Q: What is the traditional song that's often played at jewish wedding receptions in films?
A: "Hava Nagila", Israeli folk song
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This might help out....
Jewish wedding ceremony and other religious wedding ceremony ... talented friend sing or play an instrument at an appropriate time during the ceremony. .......
www.maweddingguide.com/planning/Ceremony/ceremony.htm
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Read this link.. A jewish couple narrates what happens during a ceremony...
http://www.beneden.com/wedding/jana&daniel/ceremony.html
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instruments?
The shofar, predecessor of the modern trumpet, is the quintessential Jewish instrument.
The association of wind instruments with profound mystical spirituality should come as no surprise, as it is implicit in the word itself! Trumpet (Hebrew: khatzotz'ra) come from "two little words:" khatzu (broken) and tzarot (troubles.)
Two other instruments that seem to be particularly popular with Jewish musicians are the violin (Chagall's depictions of the Shtetl fiddler are only too well-known!) and the clarinet.
http://www.templesanjose.org/JudaismInfo/song/music.htm
http://www.jochnowitz.net/Essays/JewishComp.html
Q: Jewish wedding-brides parents divorced & remarried. Want all in procession. Need ideas for walking bride down?
I am close with both sets of parents although grew up in my mom and stepfathers home. Don't want to hurt anyones feelings.
A: Halachicly, step parents have no role to play in the wedding and the biological parents should walk her down the aisle. it does not mean the step parents have to be excluded- they can join their respective partners under th chupah as honoured guests, but strictly speaking it is the role of the biological parents to walk with their daughter down the aisle- particularly the father as it is a symbolic handing over of the daughter from his home to the home of the chatan.
Q: Do i have to wear a yarmulke at a Jewish Wedding if I am Catholic?
I have heard both sides of the argument and I have a Jewish wedding to go to this weekend. Some are telling me that I have to wear one, and others are telling me that only Jewish people have to wear one.
A: Well, the difference between you wearing one and a religious Jew wearing one, is that the Jewish man is wearing it as a religious symbol. When you wear one at the wedding, it shows a great deal of respect to the bride and groom as well as to the holy building the ceremony is in. My advice, wear it. If you do not wear it, you will appear to be disrespecting the temple or synagogue. Just as in some other holy buildings we cover up exposed flesh as a sign of respect to the religion, the principal of respect is the same in this case. Have fun at the wedding!
Q: How long to jewish wedding ceremonies usually last?
i need to know plz help
A: The ceremony itself can last 30-45 minutes
Q: Can anyone recommned a Jewish wedding venue in Sydney?
I'm would like to have a small intimate kosher wedding for around 100 guests. Something similar in venue to Mandalay House?
A: I sort the open Q by number of answers every once in a while so that the ones with 0 come up first. I'm not Jewish and not Australian, but I am familiar with Y!A. I suspect yours isn't going to get answered.
Have you called people? Rabbis and Jewish caterers would seem to be the best source.