Hannah & Jake
Jewish Weddings: Explained
1. The Tisch
Pre-Ceremony Festivities
In Yiddish, "Tisch" means "table," and this tradition is a joyous prelude to the wedding ceremony. Guests gather around a table to celebrate with lively banter, song, and camaraderie. During the Tisch, the couple will share insights or interpretations from Rabbinic teachings. In true festive spirit, guests are encouraged to interject with spirited singing, which includes both contemporary English and traditional Hebrew songs. A cherished highlight is "Od Yishama," a song that will feature prominently throughout the day. We invite you to familiarize yourself with it in advance, so you can join in the celebration with enthusiasm!
2. The Ketubah Signing
Jewish Wedding Contract
Following the Tisch, we will proceed with the presentation and signing of the Ketubah—a Jewish legal document that represents the formal commitment between the couple. It will be read aloud later, during the ceremony. The Ketubah is traditionally hand-crafted and ornately decorated for display in the home, and is signed by both partners and two non-familial witnesses.
3. The Ceremony
Traditions & Blessings
The ceremony begins under the chuppah, a canopy that symbolizes the home that Jake and Hannah will continue building together. In Ashkenazi tradition, before the couple enters the chuppah, one partner circles the other seven times. Exchanging rings, Jake and Hannah will declare, in Hebrew, "With this ring, you are sanctified to me as my [spouse].” Loved ones will be called forth to recite the Sheva Brechot, or Seven Blessings, celebrating the new union. Finally, breaking the glass - while containing many meanings - represents to Hannah and Jake the Jewish principle of tikkun olam - our shared responsibility to help repair a broken world. Even in times of great joy, we remember there is still work to be done to make this world a better place.
4. The Hora & Mizinke Dance
Traditional Ashkenazi Jewish Dances
The Hora is a traditional circle-dance where guests join hands and dance in concentric circles to Klezmer (Eastern European folk) music. Eventually, the couple is hoisted into the air on chairs and bobbed up and down above the crowd. The couple hang on for dear life, each holding the opposite end of a single napkin to signify their union. When they're finally lowered, guests are invited to entertain the couple with props, costumes, stunts, and wacky dance moves. The Mizinke, also known as "the broom dance," celebrates parents who have married-off all of their children. The parents are adorned with floral crowns as their children carry brooms and "sweep" around them to congratulate them on successfully "sweeping" all of the kids out of the home.