At Ketubah.com, we value the symbolism and uniqueness of time-honored wedding traditions and are honored to play an important role in many couples’ unions by providing the perfect Ketubah for their ceremony.
We spoke to Blue Nile, the world’s leading online retailer of diamond engagement and wedding rings, to share our insights on one of the most popular wedding traditions from around the world.
The value of tradition in Jewish culture
Many Jewish couples today choose a traditional wedding ceremony and reception from their cultural backgrounds. It is a beautiful way to share something personal with the guests and a meaningful tribute to their heritage and families.
In Jewish culture, if one member of the couple is Jewish, including elements of a Jewish ceremony is a beautiful way to show a commitment to each other’s beliefs and respect the family lineage and customs that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Our favorite Jewish wedding traditions
Signing of the Ketubah
The Ketubah is a Jewish marital document that dates back 2,000 years. Couples today have found beautiful ways to continue the tradition of a ketubah into their modern Jewish weddings.
While Orthodox couples still use the traditional Aramaic ketubah text, many Reform, interfaith, and even same-sex couples, make the ketubah tradition their own in various ways. Some have a signing ceremony and use the opportunity to ask family and friends to sign their Ketubah as witnesses to their marriage. The Orthodox Jewish wedding tradition has a rabbi read the Ketubah out loud under the Chuppah. Afterward, the groom hands it to the bride so that she can accept the marriage. Modern Ketubah now include similar declarations of commitment made by both bride and groom with a joint declaration of faith in God and a connection to the Jewish people.
The Chuppah
The Chuppah is among the most important Jewish wedding traditions. This wedding canopy consists of a cloth supported by four poles, which may either stand on their own or be held by wedding party members or honored guests. The Chuppah represents the creation of a Jewish home and is a show of hospitality to the assembled guests. During a Jewish wedding ceremony, the officiant and parents of the couple stand with the soon-to-be-married couple under the Chuppah.
Breaking of the glass
If you’re in a restaurant and glass breaks, it might be your instinct to shout, “opa!” But after centuries of Jewish weddings, it’s our reflex to yell, “mazel tov!” Before we get down and dance the night away, this Jewish wedding tradition helps remind us of the destruction of the Temples. Grooms or couples stomp as hard as they can to smash the glass. But, like the tiles of Gaudi, couples have been finding ways to turn the pieces of broken glass into beautiful keepsakes to make mezuzahs for their new home.
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