A betrothal blessing focused on monogamy and blessing the loving couple, rather than forbidden relationships.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן
Transliteration:
Barukh atah Adonay eloheynu melekh ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.
English:
Blessed are You Eternal our God Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ לִדְבוֹק זוֹ בְּזוֹ וְלְהִיוֹת לְבָשָֹר אֶחָד[1], וְאָֽסַר עָלֵינוּ אֲחֵרִים[2], וְהִתִּיר לָֽנוּ אֶת הַנְּשׂוּאוֹת לָֽנוּ עַל יְדֵי חֻפָּה וְקִדּוּשִׁין. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְקַדֵּשׁ עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל יְדֵי חֻפָּה וְקִדּוּשִׁין.
Transliteration:
Barukh atah Adonay eloheynu melekh ha’olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotenu lidvok zo b’zo v’lihiot l’vasar ekhad, v’asar aleynuPrayer proclaiming God’s kingship, said near the conclusion of the prayer service. akheirim, v’hitir lanu et hansu’ot lanu al y’dey khupah v’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.. Barukh atah Adonay m’kadesh amo Yisrael al y’dey khupah v’kiddushin.
English:
Blessed are You Eternal our God Ruler of the universe, Who made us holy through God’s commandments and commanded us to cleave one to the other and become as one flesh, and forbade to us others, and permitted to us the one who we marry by means of huppah and kiddushin. Blessed are You God, Who makes holy God’s people IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel. by means of huppah and kiddushin.
Read about the authors’ wedding and ritual decisions.
[1] Text adapted from Genesis 2:24.
[2] Changed wording to reflect our modern understanding of monogamy
