What Does It Mean To Have A Kosher Wedding?

A kosher wedding is a special celebration that adheres to the dietary laws and traditions of Judaism, incorporating kosher elements into various aspects of the wedding. The food must be kosher to absorb Divine light into the bodies and bring blessings down to earth, influencing the lives of the new couple, their families, and all present.

A Jewish wedding ceremony follows Jewish laws and traditions, including a ketubah (marriage contract) signed by two witnesses, a chuppah or huppah, and the reading of the Ketubah in the original Aramaic text. The ketubah is then read in the original Aramaic text and is given to the groom for him to hand to his.

The Hebrew word “kosher” means fit or proper as it relates to Jewish dietary law. Kosher foods are permitted to be eaten and can be used as ingredients in the production of additional food items. A kosher kitchen is a kitchen in which food is prepared according to the Jewish kosher dietary laws. Meat and dairy are kept strictly separate, and any traces of non-kosher ingredients have been purged from the kitchen utensils and surfaces before they can be used. Most major kosher certifying agencies place a “P” next to their seal on such products.

Kosher-style food is not supervised by a rabbi and may not include both meat and dairy, pork, or shellfish. Jewish wedding ceremonies are permitted to take place anywhere, so long as there is a chuppah structure present.

A kosher wedding is a spiritual event that brings the bride and groom together as one, reflecting the centrality of Judaism in their lives.

Are eggs kosher?

Only eggs from kosher chickens are kosher. These include chicken, Cornish hens, ducks, geese, and turkey. You can’t eat blood, even a little bit. If there’s blood on an egg, it’s not kosher.

Check each egg for blood spots before cooking or combining with other food. If a blood spot is found, throw the whole egg away and wash the cup or dish with cold water. Boil at least three eggs at a time when boiling eggs. Some people boil eggs in a separate pot.

Why do Jews break a glass at weddings?

Breaking the glass also has sexual connotations. It symbolizes the release of sexual union, which is required of married couples. For centuries, breaking the glass symbolized breaking the hymen. This was why it was so important for the groom to succeed. The crash of glass ends the hush of mythic time under the huppah, and the world rushes in. Everyone cheers, “Mazel tov!” The party starts. You can break any kind of glass. Make sure it’s wrapped well to prevent injury. A cloth napkin is standard, but you can buy a satin pouch or velvet bag. Some artisans make mementos out of the shards. A lightbulb wrapped in a linen napkin makes a louder pop, but it’s not as good as the original symbol.

Excerpted with permission from The Jewish Wedding Now (Simon & Schuster).

What do Jews drink at weddings?

Many Jewish ceremonies have two steps. Both are done with a glass of wine. One blessing over wine is said before the betrothal ceremony, another before the wedding. One blessing over wine precedes the betrothal ceremony, another the wedding ceremony. Two cups of wine should be used for the two blessings over wine because the two ceremonies are separate. The Tosafists say that since in ancient times the betrothal and the wedding were separate, the two cups remind us of that. The law says you shouldn’t say two prayers of kedushah over one cup because mitzvot shouldn’t be grouped together. Each deserves respect. Two wine glasses are best, but one is fine. The Talmud doesn’t say where wine should be drunk, but some rabbis think it’s implied. Sheiltot is the basis for the final halakhic decision that it is preferred at the betrothal, but only at the wedding is it required. Use only kosher wine and put it under the chuppah with the two wine glasses. If kosher wine isn’t available, use whiskey, beer, or something similar. People debated who should drink the wine. Some said the rabbi should drink the wine he blessed and then serve it to the groom and bride. Some said only the couple should drink the wine, while others said the rabbi should drink it, but the bride and groom shouldn’t. Today, only the bride and groom drink the wine. They are performing the mitzvah, and the rabbis bless them. The bride and groom don’t have to say the blessing, but they can say the amen after the rabbis blessing.

Why is pork not kosher?

The Torah says which animals are kosher. Kosher animals are ruminants, like sheep or cows. Pigs are not ruminants, so they are not kosher. Fish with fins and scales can be eaten. Shrimps, prawns, and squid are not fish, so they are just as non-kosher as the eel. Another rule is about how milk and meat are prepared and eaten. The Torah says not to cook a kid goat in its mother’s milk. The elders discussed what this meant. They agreed to eat milk and meat separately. You won’t find veal ragout in cream sauce or cheeseburgers at a religious family’s table. Foods that are neither milk nor meat are considered neutral. They include fruit and vegetables. When religious people follow these rules, they bless each day and live each day with awareness.

Why do Jews get married under a chuppah?

A chuppah is the canopy under which Jewish couples are married. The chuppah represents a couple’s new home together. It also represents God’s presence and blessing. A chuppah can be a tallit (prayer shawl) or a large piece of fabric attached to poles. Some wedding venues have structures that can serve as a chuppah and be decorated by a florist. The chuppah shows that couples should be open with each other and that new marriages need support. Watch the Bimbam video below for more on this topic.

What is a kosher wedding food?

One good thing about living in a multicultural society is the variety of food. Kosher wedding food is becoming more popular. Serving Kosher Wedding Food at your event means you can provide dishes that conform to Jewish dietary laws. You can serve tasty food without worrying about leaving guests hungry. There are three types of food to consider when planning Kosher Wedding Food: meat, dairy, and pareve. Meat must come from an animal that chews its cud and has split hooves, like cows, sheep, and goats. Dairy foods must come from a kosher animal. Pareve foods include all other foods. All Kosher foods must be prepared and cooked according to rules to maintain suitability. Here are some wedding dishes you can include. For entrees or canapés, try spicy beef skewers, button mushrooms stuffed with caramelized onion, or salmon cakes with dill sauce. Dairy and meat cannot be served together, so choose which option you prefer. You can serve any type of meat for the main course, as long as it’s prepared according to Kosher rules. If you choose seafood, only fish is allowed. Shellfish and other sea creatures without scales are not Kosher. Fruit sorbets, berry tartlets, and baklava are great desserts. If you’re serving wedding cake, choose a flourless chocolate cake made by a baker who knows Kosher food rules.

Do Jews drink wine at weddings?

People argued about who should drink the wine. Some said the rabbi should drink first and then serve it to the groom and bride. Some said only the couple should drink the wine. Others said the rabbi drinks, but the bride and groom shouldn’t. Today, only the bride and groom drink the wine because they are performing the mitzvah. The rabbis bless them. The bride and groom can say the blessing, but it’s fine if they say amen after the rabbi’s blessing. You don’t have to drink the wine all at once. Just taste it. An interesting idea is that when the couple drinks the wine after the wedding, the groom should give it to his wife as the first thing he must do for her. These are just details of tradition, and there are many ways to do it.

Wine is important in Jewish tradition, especially on the Sabbath and at festivals. On the Sabbath, wine is a symbol of holiness. At the end of the Sabbath, wine is a symbol of separation from the secular world. This separates the holiness of the Holy Day from the secular character of the ordinary day. At a wedding, wine symbolizes kiddush, sanctity, and havdalah, separation. The blessing says, “who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us about some things to separate us from illicit relations.” Wine is used at the threshold of the Sabbath to sanctify it and separate it. It is used at the threshold of marriage to separate it from the prohibited and sanctify the bonds of proper marriage.

What do Jews do for weddings?

Jewish weddings traditionally take place outside with a canopy covering the bride and groom. The ceremony has two parts: betrothal and marriage. Jewish culture values marriage, and weddings are important events. Images from the early 1700s to the late 1800s show how Jewish wedding traditions and customs changed over time. These scenes show the Middle East and the wealthy Rothschilds. Many of the books and materials in the Sondheim collection were originally written by Gentiles, so many scenes show how Jewish rituals are different. Most of the scenes in this section show Ashkenazi Jews or those from Eastern Europe. Bohème – La vieille synagogue de Prague shows Sefardic Jews in Amsterdam. Jewish weddings are traditionally held outside with a canopy covering the bride and groom. The ceremony has two parts: betrothal and marriage. In kiddushin, the bride accepts money and a signed contract from the groom. The payment is usually a ring, but in Sefardic weddings it can be a coin. Wine is served in two glasses at each step. Prayers are said over the first glass before the ring, and seven blessings are said over the second glass after the ketubah is read. The groom breaks the glass. The breaking of the glass symbolizes the destruction of the Second Temple. It reminds the assembled party to be mindful of unhappiness even at moments of great joy.

Why do Jews cover their hair after marriage?

Orthodox women don’t show their hair in public after they get married. A headscarf or wig, called a sheitel in Yiddish, shows they are married and follow traditional ideas of how to act. The first meeting between Rebekah and Isaac inspired the custom. Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel and asked the servant, “Who’s that man coming towards us across the field?” The servant said, “That’s my master.” Then she put on a veil. (Genesis 24:64ff) Covering the hair became a tradition in the 15th century and is still followed in Orthodox Judaism. In Hassidic communities in Eastern Europe during the 18th century, it was common for women to cut off their hair after marriage and wear a headscarf. However, different groups of Orthodox Jews interpreted the custom in different ways. Some women wore a headscarf after their wedding, while others did not. Today, Orthodox women cover their hair with a scarf, bonnet, or hairnet.