Marriage
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Marriage Ceremony
Can you please give me some background information, and an overview, of the Jewish marriage ceremony? According to Jewish Tradition, before the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, once a man and woman decided to get married, moved into…
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Polygamy for Men, But Not for Women
Why is it that in the Jewish history, a man was allowed to marry a few wives (e.g. our Patriach Jacob), and the women were severely punished if they had committed adultery? I am not saying that adultery is right,…
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Finding my Soulmate
How does I know if the person I’m dating is my “bashert” [“intended” or “soulmate”]? Are their particular signs to look for or do we just spend time together and wait to see how the relationship develops? There is no…
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Reaffirming Marriage Vows
Can a married couple reaffirm their vows under a chuppah for a second time? There isn’t any form of reaffirming vows in the Jewish tradition. Once a couple is married, they remain so unless they divorce or one party dies,…
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Father Officiating Wedding Services
Is it possible for a Jewish father to perform the religious component for the wedding of his daughter? The basic components of a valid marriage are a bride and groom, a simple wedding band, and two valid witnesses that are…
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Bride Walks Around Seven Times
Why does the bride walk around the groom seven times in a Jewish wedding? There are many reasons given for this custom. My personal favorite is that walking around seven times brings down the barriers and walls between the couple,…
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Breaking the Glass at the Wedding
What is the meaning behind breaking the glass at a wedding ceremony? The custom of breaking a glass at a wedding stems from an incident recorded in the Talmud (Tractate Brachot 31a). One of the Sages was bothered by the…