Traditional Jewish Wedding Ceremony#

Traditional Jewish Wedding Ceremony# ! Welcoming Blessings Cantor chants : (In Hebrew, Blessing1)# Blessed are you who have come here in the name of G...
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Traditional Jewish Wedding Ceremony# ! Welcoming Blessings Cantor chants : (In Hebrew, Blessing1)# Blessed are you who have come here in the name of God.# Cantor chants: (Blessing 2)# Serve Adonai with joy; come into God’s presence with song.# We all rejoice that ______and _______join in marriage in the presence of God and loved ones.# # Cantor chants: (Blessing 3)# O most awesome, glorious and blessed God, grant Your blessings to this bride and groom.# You are surrounded by your family and friends whose joy and prayers are with you as you stand under this chuppah, the Jewish wedding canopy. The chuppah is fragile, not permanent, whereas your union will be strong and everlasting. Your home will be a shelter against the storms of life, a haven of peace and serenity, a stronghold of faith and love the one place that you want to be at the end of each day. In a way, the chuppah 1

represents a house full of promises, full of your hopes and dreams. But, it also creates a sacred space in which this ceremony is housed.# (Optional) Family surrounds you and in a real sense also represents the generations of loving, hardworking, and dedicated ancestors that have brought you to this moment. There are those who were not privileged to live to see this day. But, their memories animate this ceremony. In a few moments, as you leave this chuppah, as husband and wife, you will carry with you their blessings. You are now the newest chapter in these family’s trees of life.# We especially remember:# o# o# o# o#

! There is no exact equivalent in Hebrew for the word “marriage”. Rather, we use the word, “Kidushin”, which derives from the root for “holy”. Our Jewish tradition tells us that the concept of “holy” means that we take something that others see as ordinary and separate it, distinguish it and elevate it for a special purpose. You, _____________ and _________________have taken each other, ordinary human beings, and made each other “holy” for yourselves. You have elevated your relationship to a “holy” place before God. That is why we have all gathered here to be with you at this extraordinary moment.# Shehecheyanu (Optional)# First Cup (Erusin) [First Cup of Wine is shared with parents and honors their love and guidance that helped bring you to this sacred moment, Birkat Erusin.]# Cantor chants “Erusin” Blessing : (In Hebrew) # We praise you Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.# 2

[Bride and Groom Share the cup(s) with parents to honor them]# Cantor: This first cup is a visible token of the rich family heritage that our people have passed on “L’dor vador”, from one generation to the next.# We pray that in many sacred moments you will partake of a Kiddush together, making of your home a “Mikdash Me’at”, a small sanctuary.# MARRIAGE VOWS: Not a part of Traditional Ceremonies# Reform “Do you, ______, take ______ to be your wife/husband, promising to cherish and protect her/him, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek together with her/him a life hallowed by the faith of Israel?” Conservative “Do you, ______, take ______ to be your lawfully wedded wife/husband, to love, to honour, and to cherish?”

Other Jewish vows “With this ring, you are made holy to me, for I love you as my soul. You are now my wife. “With this ring, you are made holy to me, for I love you as my soul. You are now my husband.” http://theknot.ninemsn.com.au/wedding-planning/ceremony-weddingplanning/vows/jewish-wedding-vows#

! SHEVA B’RACHOT: SEVEN WEDDING BLESSINGS: The couple may "circle" each other in a tradition the Cantor will introduce.# Cantor: Through the ages, brides and grooms have been blessed with seven special wedding blessings. Six of these thank God for 3

creating the world, man and woman, peace and harmony and especially, the joy of the bride and groom. The seventh, the last that I will chant is the blessing over the wine. It is the first cup that you will share as husband and wife. It sanctifies this day and this marriage.# [Cantor Chants: Seven Hebrew Blessings or several selected ones, followed by translations which he or family/friends may read, (if desired) Please, see "alternate blessings" at the bottom or the special 7 Blessings from the "Interfaith Ceremony" above may be used.# 1) We are thankful for this World, everything in it, all its glory and especially the joy of the bride and groom.# 2) We are grateful that, as humans, we may come together in marriage to fulfill our own lives, brighten the lives of our loved ones and nurture the world around us.# 3) We are thankful for the reunion of Zion and its people. We hope that all cultures, races and faiths may find a way to live together in peace and joy.# 4) Let the loving couple find wholeness through this sacred union of Kiddushin. We are thankful that in finding one another, they are now embarking on a lifetime of love and commitment to one another.# 5) We are grateful for joy and celebration; the bride and the groom; pleasure and delight; peace and friendship. We and grateful to witness such treasured joys today.# 6) May there soon be heard in the cities of Israel and throughout the world, sounds of joy. May the streets be filled with dancing and celebrating as these two beautiful souls have come together as one.# 7) We are thankful for the memories of yesterday, the blessings of today, the sustenance of the fruit of the vine and the lifetime of devotion and partnership that lies ahead for _____________ and ______________.# [Bride and Groom Share the 2nd cup: Kiddush)# Cantor: As you have shared this cup of wine, you now undertake to share all that the future may bring. May you find life’s joys 4

doubly gladdened, its bitterness sweetened and all things hallowed by true companionship and by love.#

! The Ring Ceremony Cantor: And now _______and__________, you will speak the age-old words and exchange the treasured rings that will unite your lives as husband and wife. These rings, in their unbroken wholeness, are fitting tokens of your union and of your love. They will become to all who see them the outward symbol of the inner spiritual bond you now share and the eternal faithfulness that will now pledge to one another. As you place this ring on the finger of you beloved remember that these are the hands of your best friend. These are the hands that will work along side of yours as you create a new future for yourselves. And these are the hands that even when wrinkled with age will still be reaching out for yours.# Groom: Ha-rei at/ m’ku-de-shet li/ mo-she v’-yis-ra-eil.#

be-ta-ba-at zo /

k’-dat

Be wedded to me with this ring as my wife, in keeping with the tradition of the Moses & Israel.# Bride: Ha-rei atah / m’-ku-dash li/ mo-she ve-yis-ra-eil.#

be-ta-ba-at zo/

k’-dat

Be wedded to me with this ring as my husband, in keeping with the tradition of the Moses & Israel.#

! DECLARATION Cantor: Now go and enter into the days of your togetherness. And may those days be good and long upon this earth. By the authority vested in me by the State of______________, I declare that you _________and __________are now husband and wife.#

BENEDICTION 5

Cantor: (first in English, then Hebrew)# We call upon God’s choicest blessing upon you with this ancient text from the Torah. # Cantor chants: Hebrew# ___ ( translation ) ___(“May God bless you and keep you”# Cantor: Hebrew# ___________________: “May God look kindly upon you and be gracious to you.”# Cantor: Hebrew# _________________: “May God reach out to you in tenderness and give you peace.”#

! BREAKING THE GLASS Cantor: The breaking of the glass at a wedding is a symbolic prayer and hope that you will spend as many years together in faithfulness and happiness as it would take to collect and reassemble the shattered pieces of this glass. Some say that the broken glass also reminds us that even in times of great joy, the world is still in exile, still broken, and that we have a responsibility to actively help fix it. As you go forward into this world, remember that you have a responsibility to others and not just to yourselves.# [Groom BREAKS THE GLASS]# Cantor: “___________, YOU MAY KISS YOUR BRIDE!”# #

! Sheva B'rachot Blessings/"Contemporary Translation" They follow the Hebrew closely and may be used at any ceremony.# 1) Blessed are You, God, who shapes the universe. All of creation speaks of Your glory.# 2) Blessed are You, Holy One, who fashions each person.# 6

3) We bless You, God, for forming each person in Your image. Blessed are You, Creator of humanity.# 4) Blessed are You, God, who lets Zion rejoice with her children.# 5) Blessed are You, the Presence who dwells with this bride and groom in delight.# 6) Blessed are You, who lights the world with happiness and contentment, love and companionship, peace and friendship, the bride and the bridegroom. We bless you, God, who brings them together to rejoice in each other!# 7) Blessed are ¥ou, God, who brings forth the fruit of the vine that they will now share for the first time as husband and wife.# http://www.interfaithjewishwedding.com/Sample_Ceremony.html#

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