Pre-Wedding Celebrations

Sheva Brachot Dinners A traditional Jewish wedding is full of significant and meaningful traditions that symbolize to the Jewish couple the purpose of their joining together in marriage. This research will utilize Hebrew words with their English translations in parenthesis. This research will provide a detailed overview of the customs, their history and derivation and symbolic significance to the Jewish couple and their wedding day. One of the first significant choices the couple will make is to find a good shidduch (match) with a rabbi. According to Anita Diamant, author of The New Jewish Wedding, ôthe best matches are those that encourage exploration, discussion, and enough self-confidence so you can make some Jewish decisions for yourselves.ö (Diamant, 2001, p. 37)

In Judaism, the marriage ceremony is a holy institution. The Hebrew word for marriage ôkiddushinö translates to the English word, ôsatisfactionö. Much preparation surrounds the (chatunah) wedding day with the chatan (groom) and kallah (bride) being witness to not only their material and secular aspects of their future,

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ouple directly with a homily espousing the sanctity of the institution of marriage, conjugal responsibilities and other historical and sociologically significant material the couple will require knowledge to remember. The first cup is poured at this time to be shared by the chatan and kallah after the rabbi offers the betrothal blessing or the kiddushin of the kiddushin ceremony. The chatanÆs father holds the cup and the rabbi chants: ôBlessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us concerning forbidden marriages; who has disallowed us to those who are betrothed, but has sanctified unto us such as are wedded to us by the rite of the canopy and the sacred covenant of wedlock. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who sanctifiest Thy people Israel by the rite of the canopy and the sacred covenant of wedlock.ö (Murphy, 1978, p. 211) The chatanÆs father hands him the glass of wine and he drinks. The cup passes to the kallahÆs mother and she hands it to her daughter, who drinks. Once the cup of wine has been drunk, the chatan will take a gold or silver band devoid of any kind of precious stone, placing it upon the middle finger of the brideÆs right hand. As he does
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Thou Lord, Shabbat Sabbath, Yom Kippur, Serve Lord, Abraham Sarah, Jewish Mariage, Israelö Murphy, KJV Gen, Jewish Wedding, Judaic United, thou lord, art thou, art thou lord, blessed art, blessed art thou, chatan kallah, thou lord god, god king, lord god, lord god king, king universe, murphy 1978, jewish wedding, god king universe, yom kippur,
Approximate Word count = 2770
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)

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