A Traditional Jewish Wedding
Our host abnd wife were scheduled to attend a close friends wedding that same evening, and we were to be their guest. (17) We were taken to a very elaborate estate that evening, it was still raining but this was not deterring anyone. We arrived as the traditional ceremony was in progress,
In traditional Jewish literature marriage is actually called kiddushin, which translates as "sanctification" or "dedication." "Sanctification," indicates that what is happening is not just a social arrangement or contractual agreement, but a spiritual bonding and the fulfillment of a mitzvah, a Divine precept. "Dedication," indicates that the couples now have an exclusive relationship, that involves total dedication of the bride and groom to each other, to the extent of them becoming, as the Kabbalists state, "one soul in two bodies."
The wedding was under a gazebo outside. The grounds were absolutely exquisite. The Rabbi/Candor conducting the ceremony spoke and sang the ceremony all in Hebrew of course and it was very exciting to Jennie and I. At the end of the ceremony the groom stepped on and broke a wrapped glass.
At this point the couple again shares in drinking the cup of wine, and the groom breaks a glass by stamping on it. This custom dates back to
Talmudic times, and symbolizes the idea of our keeping Jerusalem and Israel in our minds even at times of our joy. Just as the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed, so we break a utensil to show our identification with the sorrow of Jewish exile. The verse, "If I forget thee O' Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its cunning:
If I do not raise thee over my own joy, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth", is sometimes recited at this point. With the breaking of the glass the
band plays, and the guests usually break out into dancing and cries of "Mazaltov! Mazaltov!" (Some say, tongue in cheek, that this
moment symbolizes the last time the groom gets to "put his foot down")
After everyone shouted "Mazaltov!" A song was loudly played over the speakers for all to hear and I was totally caught by surprise as I so recognized the song…
"I Feel Good!" by The Godfather of Soul James Brown! I laughed and shouted and danced! People were laughing at me as
they were enjoying that we were so enjoying all of this. Everyone retired to inside where a great celebration had started, a huge buffet,
dance floor, big screen LCD with lots of videos celebrating the day. A band and hundreds of people having a good time…
Yes, I did go up and dance!...What's a brother to do?....The highlight of the ceremony to me was a exotic dancer who tapped/clogged
dance which was very thrilling to be a part of.The wine was ever so fine and food was so very good, we did not get too many pictures as the batteries in
Jennie's camera were dead. the international charging system we had did not work very well, so
I charged all of my electronics by plugging them into the cigarette lighter of a vehicle but I did get some good videos of the party.
