What is a Jewish Wedding?

What actually happens during a Jewish wedding ceremony? It's more than just smashing glasses and a fantastic dance party after the ceremony under the chuppah. Stephanie Horwitz also explores the significance of the ketubah, what exactly the bedekken is all about, and why Jewish couples attend the sheva brachot - seven days of feasting with family and friends after the wedding.

By uncovering the meaning and symbolism behind five ancient Jewish wedding traditions, Stephanie reveals how these rituals actually serve to bind new couples together in a marriage grounded in love, commitment, and respect.

Big Ideas

1. Jewish wedding traditions help tie the newlyweds to the long ark of Jewish history.
2. Jewish weddings celebrate not only the newlyweds, but also their loved ones.
3. Though Jewish weddings have much in common, each is as unique as the couple it unites.

Essential Questions

1. How did Jewish wedding traditions originate and evolve over time? 
2. What symbolism is included in Jewish wedding rituals?
3. What is required in a Jewish wedding?