The religious and legal union between man and woman. From *Biblical times, monogamy has been the general rule among the *Jews. Jews must marry within their own religious community (see *INTERMARRIAGE) and both marriage and having children are a positive duty. The first commandment given to *Adam and *Eve was to be fruitful and multiply. Although a happy marriage is much to be desired, divorce is permitted (see *GET).
The actual ceremony is in two parts:- Kiddushin (betrothal) and Nissuim (the marriage itself), but from the Middle Ages, the two parts were combined. Once the marriage contract is agreed (see *KETUBAH), the bridegroom is led to the bride under the marriage canopy (see *HUPPAH). *Benedictions are said over wine and both the man and woman drink from the same cup. The man gives the woman a ring pronouncing in Hebrew the formula: ‘Behold you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the law of *Moses and *Israel.’ The ketubah is then read out, seven *blessings are recited and the bridegroom crushes a glass with his foot (the symbolism of this is obscure). Traditionally weddings are a time of great rejoicing. Among *progressive Jews, there is an attempt to make the service more reciprocal, but in any case, different communities follow different marriage practices.
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