| I once had the pleasure of being a bridesmaid in a | | | | attendants, such as bridesmaids and a maid of honor. |
| Jewish wedding. I discovered that there are some | | | | These young women have the special privilege of |
| very special customs that are part of Jewish | | | | attending to the bride. The bride also may choose her |
| weddings, with extremely important significance. (Some | | | | Ketubah witnesses from among her attendants (more |
| of which, particularly the Ketubah, couples from other | | | | on that later). The inclusion of male and female honor |
| faiths would do well to study.) For those of you who | | | | attendants in Jewish weddings dates back to the |
| are planning a Jewish wedding, or just looking forward | | | | belief that the angels Michael and Gabriel were present |
| to attending one, here a few of the key traditions. | | | | at the "marriage" of Adam and Eve. (As with any |
| The Chuppah: This is a beautiful canopy supported by | | | | wedding, it is customary for the bride to offer a token |
| four poles under which the couple is wed. It is a | | | | of her appreciation to her attendants, such as |
| symbol of the couple's new home together in Judaism. | | | | bridesmaid jewelry. At my friend's wedding, she gave |
| The Chuppah also signifies that they hope that their | | | | us bridesmaid jewelry in the form of handcrafted pearl |
| home will be blessed by God's protection and | | | | earrings in a silver color to coordinate with our |
| guidance. The custom of the Chuppah can be traced | | | | dresses.) |
| back, at least in part, to the ancient custom of being | | | | The Ketubah: This was the Jewish custom that I found |
| wed outdoors (tradition said that an outdoor ceremony | | | | to be particularly interesting. Unlike more patriarchal |
| meant that the couple might be graced with a child for | | | | religious traditions, Judaism takes care to affirm the |
| every star in the sky). The marriage canopy was | | | | rights of the woman in a marriage. The Ketubah is a |
| designed to cover the bride and groom and create a | | | | marriage contract that both parties must sign. The part |
| special room for them. A lovely custom in Jewish | | | | that most impressed me is that witnesses are required |
| ceremonies is that both of the bride's parents walk her | | | | to ensure that the bride is signing the contract of her |
| down the aisle, where they "give" her to the groom | | | | own free will. The Ketubah outlines the privileges due |
| who is waiting for her under the Chuppah - their new | | | | the wife, and also details the husband's obligations (this |
| home as husband and wife. The Chuppah can be very | | | | should be a required part of any marriage, don't you |
| simple or very ornate; it is often created from a piece | | | | think, ladies?). In addition, the contract spells out certain |
| of fabric meaningful to the couple (I attended one | | | | legal matters in the case of divorce or death. They are |
| wedding where a family quilt was used.) It is a great | | | | usually very beautiful, done on oversized paper. At two |
| honor to be asked to hold one of the poles that | | | | of the Jewish weddings that I attended, the bride or |
| support the Chuppah. The bride will still have the usual | | | | groom handpainted the Ketubah. |