Judaism: Marriage Ceremonies (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))
Revision Note
Written by: Glenn Millington
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Jewish Marriage Ceremonies
Before the Wedding
According to Torah law, marriage is a two-step process
The first step is called 'kiddushin'
The second step is known as 'nisu'in'
Betrothal, or kiddushin, is usually an engagement period before a wedding
Kiddushin means holy or sanctified indicating the importance of this period before the marriage
Traditionally, a ceremony would be held a year before the wedding to mark the betrothal
The two partners in an Orthodox Jewish couple do not see each other for a week before the wedding ceremony
The Wedding
A Jewish wedding can happen on any day other than Shabbat or one of the Jewish festivals
In all forms of Judaism, it is allowed for weddings to be commemorated either in a synagogue or in a non-religious venue, such as a hotel
There are several stages to the wedding ceremony:
Jewish wedding ceremony stages
The 7 blessings that take place praise God for creating the human race & bringing happiness to the couple:
'We bless you, god, who brings bride & groom together to rejoice in each other'
During the ceremony, the groom will make a vow:
'Behold you are sanctified to me with this ring according to the law of Moses & Israel'
The groom places a ring on the bride’s index finger as a symbol of eternity and declares:
Behold you are consecrated to me by means of this ring according to the rituals of Moses and Israel
The second part of the service is called Nisuin
Seven further blessings are said to finalise the marriage. This is done in a separate room with the couple alone together
Guests will greet the married couple with the phrase Mazel Tov, which is a Hebrew phrase meaning 'Good Luck' or 'Congratulations'
At the reception the couple will take part in a wedding dance called the Hora
There are some differences between Orthodox and Reform ceremonies:
Orthodox Ceremony | Reform Ceremony |
|---|---|
Two male witnesses are needed | Witnesses can be male or female |
During the ceremony, a ring is placed on the bride’s finger | Both the bride and the groom can exchange rings |
Same-sex marriage is not possible | Same-sex marriage is now possible |
Significance of Jewish Marriage Ceremonies
The Significance of Marriage within Judaism
Jewish rites and rituals continue into adulthood with marriage, which is considered a blessing from God and the basis for family life
Traditionally, there has been an expectation that all Jews will marry and have children
Marriage is seen as a spiritual bonding between two people and as the fulfilment of God's commandment
In Judaism, marriage shows holiness in everyday life and fulfils the commandment to be 'fruitful and multiply' (Genesis 1:22)
Hence a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, so that they become one flesh (Genesis 2: 24)
Many Jews believe that sexual relationships should be enjoyed only within marriage
Maimonides stated that whereas the mating of animals is a purely physical and temporary act, through the sanctification of marriage, husband and wife become the closest of relatives
The rabbis in Sifrei Bemidar interpreted Ruth 3:13 as instructing Jews not to engage in any potential for intimacy before marriage
Both the Torah and the Talmud view a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, as incomplete. This is demonstrated in several passages:
A man who does not marry is not a complete person (Leviticus: 34a)
Any man who has no wife lives without the joy, without blessing, and without goodness (Yevamot: 62b)
The Significance of the Wedding Ceremony
Many Jews believe that each marriage ceremony is a re-enactment of the marriage between God and the Jewish people that took place at Mount Sinai. The wedding day is a personal Yom Kippur or the holiest and most auspicious day of someone's life
Marriage is also a legal transaction, by which the bride and groom enter a mutually binding commitment
The wedding ceremony contains several symbolic acts that are of great significance to Jews
The Chuppah is a cloth canopy supported by 4 poles and is where the Bride and groom stand underneath and become married
It symbolises the new home and is open at all sides to welcome guests
On reaching the Chuppah, the Bride walks around the Groom 7 times, or sometimes 3 times
There are different views of what this represents including, it corresponds with the 7 wedding blessings and demonstrates that the groom is the centre of the Brides’ life and the 7 days it took God to create the world
The ring that is given by the groom to the bride in Orthodox services
The complete circle of the ring symbolises the endless bond between husband and wife
Worked Example
Explain two Jewish rituals which are carried out during the marriage ceremony
(4 marks)
Answer:
One ritual that takes place is that the groom places a ring on the bride's finger. This symbolises the endless bond between husband and wife (2 marks)
Another ritual is when the groom stamps on a glass which ends the Jewish Wedding Ceremony. This reminds everybody to not forget the destruction of the Temple in ancient times, nor to forget the suffering of others (2 marks)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You must be able to recognise the features of a Jewish wedding and also the significance of the features
You may also be asked to evaluate the importance of marriage or the wedding within Judaism
For example, the question a 12 mark question could ask something like this:
‘There is no need for a religious marriage ceremony nowadays’
Evaluate this statement.
In your answer, you should:
• refer to Jewish teaching
• give reasoned arguments to support this statement
• give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view
• reach a justified conclusion
For this question, you must evaluate the importance of the religious element of the wedding for Jews but also consider the counterargument which relates to the secular belief that marriage has significance without the religious element
Some responses in support of the statement could include:
Many people now choose to have secular weddings and many of those people have long, happy marriages
The world is becoming more secular and it is seen as less necessary to have a religious element to the ceremony
Marriage is more of a legal contract and no longer has the religious significance
Having a religious ceremony can make those who are not religious feel as though they are not part of the ceremony and do not belong
The reasons for alternative responses could include:
A Jewish wedding ceremony is considered a blessing from God and the basis for family life
Marriage is seen as a spiritual bonding between two people and as the fulfilment of God's commandment to be 'fruitful and multiply'
Jews believe that it is important to have a religious wedding ceremony before beginning a sexual relationship with a partner
Marriage is seen as a spiritual bonding between two people in Judaism and as the fulfilment of God's commandments
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