A Ceremony in the Jewish Tradition
Let us begin.
(Opening Words)
Welcome to you all. We gather here today to celebrate and bear witness to the marriage of ______ and ______.
The promise of marriage is renewed daily through actions and shared responsibilities taken on in the spirit of faith, hope, and love that brings comfort in times of sadness and heightens our greatest joy.
Today _____ and _____ formally, publicly make this promise to one another.
(The Chuppah)
One symbol from the Jewish tradition is this chuppah or canopy under which we are standing. The design and the four chuppah bearers were all chosen to reflect your philosophy, values and personal connections.
The four poles rooted to the ground connect us to our heritage, keep us focused on our goals; the cover protects us and keeps us safe; the open sides leave us vulnerable and accessible. So too may your union be a safe haven, freeing you both and opening you to each other and the world.
(Kiddush)
Ceremonies marking changes of life often begin with a Kiddush prayer, a blessing on a cup of wine.
Kiddush means sanctification, to set apart and make special. The wine in the vessel of the Kiddush Cup is the symbol of life, through our sense of taste it is a symbol of sweetness, and we are reminded of all that God has created.
Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melakh ha-olam, borei p’ri hagafen
Blessed art thou, the Lord our God, King of the Universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.
(The couple sips from the cup of wine.)
(Declaration of Intent)
______ and ______ may the promises you make this day live always in your hearts and in your home, so that all which you share now deepens and grows, leading you through a lifetime of happiness.
A wedding is more than a celebration of the Love which lives in _____ and _____’s hearts. It is a Declaration of their intentions to be joined not only by mutual affection and love, but also by their hopes, their dreams and their determination to face the future together. The promises and vows they make this day shall guide them in this future.
And so I ask you now if you are prepared to make these promises.
(Vows)
_____, are you here today of your own free will to take _____ to be your _____, that you may live together sharing all that life has to offer?
(Answer): "I am."
Will you love, comfort, honor and keep him/her/them all the days of your life?"
(Answer): "I will.
_____, are you here today of your own free will to take _____ to be your _____, that you may live together sharing all that life has to offer?
(Answer): "I am."
Will you love, comfort, honor and keep her/him/them all the days of your life?
(Answer) "I will."
(The Seven Wedding Blessings)
The recitation of the Sheva Brachot - the Seven Blessings - during a wedding is an enduring tradition of Jewish couples. The blessings celebrate the creation of the world and humankind, the importance of marriage, and the hope for harmony in our lives. It is thought that there are seven blessings because the number is representative of new creation.
1. Wondrous is the eternal unfolding of the seasons, which has brought us to this joyous occasion.
2. Gratifying are the passages of life that bring both joy and sorrow and offer challenge and opportunity.
3. Radiant is the spirit of humankind that illuminates our world more than the stars in the heavens.
4. Empowering is the potential in human beings to combine love, wisdom, and courage and to forge a better life for themselves and their loved ones.
5. Precious is the love of family, friends and community.
6. Blessed is the happiness of the bride and groom, joy and gladness, pleasure and exaltation, love and harmony, peace and friendship.
7. We rejoice with this bridegroom and bride.
(Seven Blessings can also be recited in Hebrew)
(Exchange of Rings)
Traditionally, the change of status to a married couple is marked by the exchange of rings. These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning or end, no giver or receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken today.
May I have the rings please?
(Officiant is given the rings)
______, do you take ______ to be your lawfully wedded _____? Do you vow to love her/him/them and care for her/him/them for as long as you both shall live? Do you promise to accept her/him/them with all of her/his/their faults and strengths, and offer yourself to her/him/them with all of your own faults and strengths? Do you promise to be a faithful and loving companion and to always put the promises you make this day above all else?
(Answer) : "I do."
Will you now place the ring on your beloved's finger and repeat after me?
I, ______, take you, ______, to be my _____.
I will love, honor,
respect and cherish you
all the days of my life.
______, do you take ______ to be your lawfully wedded _____? Do you vow to love her/him/them and care for her/him/them for as long as you both shall live? Do you promise to accept her/him/them with all of her/his/their faults and strengths, and offer yourself to her/him/them with all of your own faults and strengths? Do you promise to be a faithful and loving companion and to always put the promises you make this day above all else?
(Answer) : "I do."
Will you now place the ring on your beloved's finger and repeat after me?
I, ______, take you, ______, to be my _____.
I will love, honor,
respect and cherish you
all the days of my life.
Today you affirm and acknowledge all that you are to each other. May your union bring you all the warmth, closeness, security, comfort, happiness and joy that this world has to offer.
(Reading)
______, would you please read from the wisdom of the Bal Shem Tov, the 18th C. Jewish mystic.
“From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together and a single, brighter light goes forth from their united being.”
(Proclamation)
_____ and _____, you have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage. You have made a special promise to each other, symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows and the giving and receiving of rings. By the authority vested in me by the State of Maryland, I now pronounce you to be _____ and ______.
With abiding confidence and affection we send you forth on your journey of life together. May it be filled with thanks and wonder, humor and fun, hope and perseverance so that you may grow in wisdom and grace.
(Breaking of the Glass)
The traditional breaking of the glass marks the end of the ceremony. Like the broken glass, marriage is an irrevocable act. Yet at the same time, marriages are fragile. The sacred bond two people share must be protected. It serves as a reminder that with the sweetness shall come sorrows, through which you will be each other’s support. Sharon and Charles, may all your happiness be as great as the number of broken pieces of glass, and may all of your troubles be as easily shattered
(Officiant wraps the Kiddish cup in a cloth, hands it to the best man, who places it next to the groom’s right foot)
We will use the Kiddish cup from the beginning of our ceremony, and the breaking of that cup signifies that the nuptials have been completed.
You may now break the glass and seal your vows with a kiss!
(The groom then stomps on the glass with his foot, kisses the bride and everyone cheers!
(Opening Words)
Welcome to you all. We gather here today to celebrate and bear witness to the marriage of ______ and ______.
The promise of marriage is renewed daily through actions and shared responsibilities taken on in the spirit of faith, hope, and love that brings comfort in times of sadness and heightens our greatest joy.
Today _____ and _____ formally, publicly make this promise to one another.
(The Chuppah)
One symbol from the Jewish tradition is this chuppah or canopy under which we are standing. The design and the four chuppah bearers were all chosen to reflect your philosophy, values and personal connections.
The four poles rooted to the ground connect us to our heritage, keep us focused on our goals; the cover protects us and keeps us safe; the open sides leave us vulnerable and accessible. So too may your union be a safe haven, freeing you both and opening you to each other and the world.
(Kiddush)
Ceremonies marking changes of life often begin with a Kiddush prayer, a blessing on a cup of wine.
Kiddush means sanctification, to set apart and make special. The wine in the vessel of the Kiddush Cup is the symbol of life, through our sense of taste it is a symbol of sweetness, and we are reminded of all that God has created.
Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melakh ha-olam, borei p’ri hagafen
Blessed art thou, the Lord our God, King of the Universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.
(The couple sips from the cup of wine.)
(Declaration of Intent)
______ and ______ may the promises you make this day live always in your hearts and in your home, so that all which you share now deepens and grows, leading you through a lifetime of happiness.
A wedding is more than a celebration of the Love which lives in _____ and _____’s hearts. It is a Declaration of their intentions to be joined not only by mutual affection and love, but also by their hopes, their dreams and their determination to face the future together. The promises and vows they make this day shall guide them in this future.
And so I ask you now if you are prepared to make these promises.
(Vows)
_____, are you here today of your own free will to take _____ to be your _____, that you may live together sharing all that life has to offer?
(Answer): "I am."
Will you love, comfort, honor and keep him/her/them all the days of your life?"
(Answer): "I will.
_____, are you here today of your own free will to take _____ to be your _____, that you may live together sharing all that life has to offer?
(Answer): "I am."
Will you love, comfort, honor and keep her/him/them all the days of your life?
(Answer) "I will."
(The Seven Wedding Blessings)
The recitation of the Sheva Brachot - the Seven Blessings - during a wedding is an enduring tradition of Jewish couples. The blessings celebrate the creation of the world and humankind, the importance of marriage, and the hope for harmony in our lives. It is thought that there are seven blessings because the number is representative of new creation.
1. Wondrous is the eternal unfolding of the seasons, which has brought us to this joyous occasion.
2. Gratifying are the passages of life that bring both joy and sorrow and offer challenge and opportunity.
3. Radiant is the spirit of humankind that illuminates our world more than the stars in the heavens.
4. Empowering is the potential in human beings to combine love, wisdom, and courage and to forge a better life for themselves and their loved ones.
5. Precious is the love of family, friends and community.
6. Blessed is the happiness of the bride and groom, joy and gladness, pleasure and exaltation, love and harmony, peace and friendship.
7. We rejoice with this bridegroom and bride.
(Seven Blessings can also be recited in Hebrew)
(Exchange of Rings)
Traditionally, the change of status to a married couple is marked by the exchange of rings. These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning or end, no giver or receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken today.
May I have the rings please?
(Officiant is given the rings)
______, do you take ______ to be your lawfully wedded _____? Do you vow to love her/him/them and care for her/him/them for as long as you both shall live? Do you promise to accept her/him/them with all of her/his/their faults and strengths, and offer yourself to her/him/them with all of your own faults and strengths? Do you promise to be a faithful and loving companion and to always put the promises you make this day above all else?
(Answer) : "I do."
Will you now place the ring on your beloved's finger and repeat after me?
I, ______, take you, ______, to be my _____.
I will love, honor,
respect and cherish you
all the days of my life.
______, do you take ______ to be your lawfully wedded _____? Do you vow to love her/him/them and care for her/him/them for as long as you both shall live? Do you promise to accept her/him/them with all of her/his/their faults and strengths, and offer yourself to her/him/them with all of your own faults and strengths? Do you promise to be a faithful and loving companion and to always put the promises you make this day above all else?
(Answer) : "I do."
Will you now place the ring on your beloved's finger and repeat after me?
I, ______, take you, ______, to be my _____.
I will love, honor,
respect and cherish you
all the days of my life.
Today you affirm and acknowledge all that you are to each other. May your union bring you all the warmth, closeness, security, comfort, happiness and joy that this world has to offer.
(Reading)
______, would you please read from the wisdom of the Bal Shem Tov, the 18th C. Jewish mystic.
“From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together and a single, brighter light goes forth from their united being.”
(Proclamation)
_____ and _____, you have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage. You have made a special promise to each other, symbolized by the joining of hands, the taking of vows and the giving and receiving of rings. By the authority vested in me by the State of Maryland, I now pronounce you to be _____ and ______.
With abiding confidence and affection we send you forth on your journey of life together. May it be filled with thanks and wonder, humor and fun, hope and perseverance so that you may grow in wisdom and grace.
(Breaking of the Glass)
The traditional breaking of the glass marks the end of the ceremony. Like the broken glass, marriage is an irrevocable act. Yet at the same time, marriages are fragile. The sacred bond two people share must be protected. It serves as a reminder that with the sweetness shall come sorrows, through which you will be each other’s support. Sharon and Charles, may all your happiness be as great as the number of broken pieces of glass, and may all of your troubles be as easily shattered
(Officiant wraps the Kiddish cup in a cloth, hands it to the best man, who places it next to the groom’s right foot)
We will use the Kiddish cup from the beginning of our ceremony, and the breaking of that cup signifies that the nuptials have been completed.
You may now break the glass and seal your vows with a kiss!
(The groom then stomps on the glass with his foot, kisses the bride and everyone cheers!