Judaism: Marriage (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Importance of marriage

What is the significance of marriage within Judaism?

• Jewish rites and rituals continue into adulthood with marriage, which is considered a blessing from God and the basis for family life

  • Traditionally, there has been an expectation for all Jews to marry and have children

• Marriage is seen as a spiritual bonding between two people and as the fulfilment of God's commandment

• In Judaism, marriage shows holiness in everyday life and fulfils the commandment to be “fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22)

• Many Jews believe that sexual relationships should be enjoyed only within marriage

  • Maimonides stated that whereas the mating of animals is a purely physical and temporary act, through the sanctification of marriage, husband and wife become the closest of relatives

  • The rabbis in Sifrei Bemidar interpreted Ruth 3:13 as instructing Jews not to engage in any potential for intimacy before marriage

  • Both the Torah and the Talmud view a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, as incomplete. This is demonstrated in several passages

The significance of the wedding ceremony

• Many Jews believe that each marriage ceremony is a re-enactment of the marriage between God and the Jewish people that took place at Mount Sinai

• The wedding day is a personal Yom Kippur, or the holiest and most auspicious day of someone's life

• Marriage is also a legal transaction, by which the bride and groom enter a mutually binding commitment

• The wedding ceremony contains several symbolic acts that are of great significance to Jews

  • The Chuppah, a cloth canopy supported by four poles, is where the bride and groom stand underneath and become married

    • It symbolises the new home and is open at all sides to welcome guests

  • On reaching the Chuppah, the bride walks around the groom seven times, or sometimes three times

    • There are different views of what this represents, including that it corresponds with the seven wedding blessings, demonstrates that the groom is the centre of the bride’s life and represents the seven days it took God to create the world

  • The ring that the groom gives to the bride in Orthodox services

    • The complete circle of the ring symbolises the endless bond between husband and wife

Features of the marriage ceremony

What is Kiddushin?

• According to Torah law, marriage is a two-step process

  • The first step is called Kiddushin

  • The second step is known as nisu'in

• Betrothal, or Kiddushin, is usually an engagement period before a wedding

  • Kiddushin means holy or sanctified, indicating the importance of this period before the marriage

  • Kiddushin marks a time where a couple becomes legally bound under halakhah (Jewish law)

  • Traditionally, a ceremony would be held a year before the wedding to mark the betrothal

  • Today, Kiddushin and nisu'in (the second stage) are often performed together in one wedding ceremony

What happens in a Kiddushin ceremony?

• Certain rituals and practices take place during a Kiddushin ceremony

  • The groom gives the bride a ring and says:

• This is the moment of Kiddushin when the couple is formally betrothed

• A ketubah (marriage contract) is signed; this is a legal document outlining the husband's responsibilities, such as:

  • Providing for his wife

  • Faithfulness

  • Support in times of need

• There are also seven blessings (sheva brachot) that are recited over wine, praising G-d and celebrating marriage

• A glass is broken at the end of the ceremony to remember the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem 

  • A reminder that even though there is joy, it is important to remember historical events

What happens during the Jewish marriage ceremony?

• A Jewish wedding can happen on any day other than Shabbat or one of the Jewish festivals

• All forms of Judaism allow for weddings to be commemorated either in a synagogue or in a non-religious venue, such as a hotel

• There are several stages to the wedding ceremony

• The seven blessings that take place praise God for creating the human race and bringing happiness to the couple

• During the ceremony, the groom makes a vow

• The groom places a ring on the bride’s index finger as a symbol of eternity and declares

• The second part of the service is called nisu'in

  • Seven further blessings are said to finalise the marriage

    • This is done in a separate room with the couple alone together

  • Guests greet the married couple with the phrase mazel tov, which is a Hebrew phrase meaning “good luck” or “congratulations”

  • At the reception, the couple takes part in a wedding dance called the hora