Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Creating Common Ground And A Memorable Ceremony With A Jewish Christian Interfaith Wedding

By Michael Bell


Faith is important to a lot of people. Even though there are statistics that say fewer people worship formally, many still attend houses of worship and adhere to religious traditions. This extends to wedding ceremonies. When two individuals decide to formalize their relationship, and are of different faiths, it is usually important to both to incorporate traditions from both faiths into the ceremony. With a little thought, and some creativity, it is possible to have a Jewish Christian interfaith wedding that is memorable and meaningful.

Unity candles are popular at Christian weddings. In this tradition the mothers of the couple light two candles. Later in the ceremony the couple takes one candle each and uses them to light the third. The tradition can be adjusted in the event the mothers are not able to participate. This is not a tradition that will be familiar to the Jews in attendance, but they will get the significance since candles play a part in the religious ceremonies they observe.

Jews aren't accustomed to spoken vows in their marriage ceremonies because the ketubah covers them. Christians might have a difficult time becoming accustomed to marriage ceremonies without spoken vows. Many mixed faith couples include them. This is not something that the Jews in attendance will have a problem with because oral vows are included in so many types of ceremonies.

The breaking of the glass won't be familiar to some Christians, but couples often decide to add it to their ceremonies as a nod to their Hebrew guests. For Jews breaking the glass symbolizes the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. As a part of a marriage ceremony it demonstrates the finality of the marriage covenant.

The ketubah is a tradition that many Christians at the ceremony will see for the first time if it's included. This will be important to many of the Hebrews in attendance. It is a ceremonial document that outlines the groom's rights and responsibilities in regard to the bride. In today's society it is symbolic rather than being an enforceable document. That is unless the couple are going to be living in Israel.

The chuppah is another traditional part of Jewish ceremonies. It is one that Christians may not even realize has anything to do with Hebrews. The bridal canopy, for Jews, symbolizes the home the couple will build together. It references the tent of Abraham which had open sides to welcome guests from wherever they came. After the ceremony some couples use the chuppah as a bedspread or a wall hanging.

Circling is a tradition for Jews that will be curious, but charming, for the Christians in attendance. The bride circles the groom seven times. This symbolizes the seven days of creation, the seven wedding blessings, and that the groom is now the center of his bride's world.

For some circling represents a wall. This wall is protection for the couple against evil spirits. Pronouncing the bride and groom married and introducing them to the guests is a Christian tradition Jews embrace.




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