BEDEKENLit. Covering (Yiddish) The act of veiling the bride by the groom./UN-VEILING
The couple stands back to back with their eyes closed and a veil is held between them. They are invited to turn around and open their eyes as the veil is lifted in order to see and accept each other for who they really are.
The couple bless each other thus:
הֲיִי אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיִי וַהֲיִי בְּרוּכָה בַּאֲשֶׁר תִּהְיִי
Hayi asher tihyi v’ahayi berukhah ba’asher tihyi (f)
הֱיֵה אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶה וֶהֱיֵה בָּרוּךְ בַּאֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶה
Heyeyh asher tihyeh veheyeyh barukh ba’asher tihyeh (m)
Be who you are, and may you be blessed in all that you are.
The couple proceed to the huppahMarriage canopy symbolizing the couple's new home. to begin the KiddushinThe first part of the traditional wedding service in which the groom acquires the bride by giving her a small token, usually a ring, and declaring that she is betrothed to him according to Mosaic law. Today, most non-Orthodox couples have made this ceremony egalitarian, exchanging rings and empowering the bride to speak too. Some, disliking the property aspects of the ceremony, have dispensed with it altogether, substituting a brit shutafut – a partnership covenant. ceremony
ERUSINLit. Betrothal Once a separate ceremony, but now a segment of the contemporary wedding ceremony./BETROTHAL CEREMONY
We bless our tradition which enjoins us to not cause distress to others and distinguishes us with the ceremony of marriage which consecrates couples under the wedding canopy. We bless the light of humanity that sanctifies us in the britLit. Covenant. Judaism is defined by the covenant - the contract between the Jewish people and God. God promises to make us abundant and to give us the land of Israel; we promise to obey God's commandments. This covenant begins with Abraham and is reiterated throughout the Torah. A brit milah, literally a covenant of circumcision, is often simply called a brit or bris. ahavah—the covenant of love.
Blessing over the wine:
We bless the light in life, which creates the fruit of the vine.
We bless the light in humanity which renews us through our traditions as we cleave one to the other and become as one. We forbid to us others, and permit to us the one who we marry by means of brit ahavah. Blessed is the light of our traditions which sanctifies us to one another by means of brit ahavah.
KIDDUSHIN/ESPOUSAL
Ring exchange:
וְאֵרַשְׂתִּיךְ לִי לְעוֹלָם וְאֵרַשְׂתִּיךְ לִי בְּצֶדֶק וּבְמִשְׁפָּט וּבְחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים
And I will espouse you forever: I will espouse you with righteousness and justice, And with goodness and mercy—Ani ledodi, ve dodi li—I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.
SHEVA BERAKHOTSeven blessings with which the bride and groom are blessed at their wedding. Also refers to the seven days of celebration following the wedding, during which the seven blessings are recited at every meal at which there is a minyan of ten Jews and there is at least one guest who was not present at the wedding./SEVEN BLESSINGS SAID OVER A CUP OF WINE
1. We bless the light in life, which creates fruit of the vine.
2. We bless the light in humanity, through which all things are glorious.
3. We bless the light in the world, which dwells within every human being.
4. We bless the light in the world through which we live, love and perpetuate life.
5. May all the people of the world rejoice as their children are renewed with joy. Blessed is the light in our lives as the people rejoice in their children.
6. We bless with perfect joy these loving companions. Blessed is the light of love which brings joy to loving companions.
7. We bless the light in humanity, through which we know joy and gladness, lover and friend, mirth, song, delight and rejoicing, love and harmony, peace and friendship. May there always be heard in our cities and in our streets voices of joy and gladness, voices of lover and friend, the jubilant voices of those joined in marriage under the canopy, the voices of people feasting and singing. Blessed is the light of love which sparks rejoicing within couples beneath their huppah.
The couple drinks the wine
