Love is just one of the things being celebrated at the 2nd annual Jewish Food and Culture Festival that will be held in the Morningstar Marina courtyard on St. Simons Island on Sunday, March 20. Presented by Historic Beth Tefilloh, with the help of Coastal Kitchen, this event will feature a traditional Jewish wedding with its ceremonial rituals and dancing. A Klezmer band will perform traditional Israeli music. A wide variety of Jewish delicacies from latkes to kugel and rugulah to matzoh ball soup and beverages will be available for purchase from Temple members, with proceeds benefiting the restoration and building fund of the stately temple with its beautiful stained glass windows located in Historic Downtown Brunswick that is more than 125 years old. Admission to the festival itself is free. The community is invited to come out between noon and 4:00 p.m. to learn more about Jewish culture and tradition and join the celebration.
If you’re not sure what to expect at a traditional Jewish wedding, we’ll give you an overview of some of the customs and rituals (minhag) that are performed to create a meaningful link between the couple’s past, present, and future. From the signing of the ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) to the dancing of the hora, the Jewish wedding has many important symbolic elements.
The betrothal ceremony (kiddushin) takes place under a wedding canopy called the huppah. Historically, Jewish wedding ceremonies were held outdoors, and the huppah was used to create an intimate, sanctified space. The huppah can be as simple or as elaborate as the couple chooses. Often they are decorated with flowers and greenery, but can be a simple white draped arch on the beach. When the couple first enters the huppah, the bride circles the groom seven times to represent the seven wedding blessings and seven days of creation, and to demonstrate that the groom is the center of her world. Many couples make this reciprocal with the groom also circling the bride.
The kiddushin begins with greetings, a blessing over the wine, and a sip taken by the bride and groom. The groom then recites an ancient Aramaic phrase as he places the wedding band on his bride's right index finger (the finger believed to be directly connected to the heart). If the ceremony is a double-ring ceremony, the bride will also place a ring on the groom’s index finger while repeating a feminine form of the Aramaic phrase, or a biblical verse from Hosea or Song of Songs. The ketubah is then read aloud in English and Aramaic.
The Sheva B'rachot, or seven blessings,consist of praise for God, a prayer for peace in Jerusalem, and good wishes for the couple. In Sephardic weddings, before the Sheva B'rachot are recited, the parents wrap the couple in a tallis, literally binding them together.
The tinkling sound of wineglasses breaking is part of the very essence of a Jewish wedding. The symbolic shattering of the glass represents the permanent change in the lives of the newly married couple, the fragility of human relationships, and is also a symbol of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. It’s also the official signal for everyone to congratulate the bride and groom with the shout of “Mazel Tov!” and start the party!
A truly beautiful ritual that immediately follows the ceremony under the huppah, is the yihud, or seclusion. The bride and groom retreat to a private room or separate area for 15 minutes of personal time. This allows them to focus on their new partnership, the true purpose of what is often a chaotic wedding day. No cameras, no videographers, no parents or bridal party members, just the newly married couple and a little quiet time alone to breathe and enjoy each other’s presence before stepping out into the reception.
The wedding reception is known as the “S'eudah Mitzvah.” The wedding meal, in Jewish tradition, is to be prepared Kosher style, within the laws of the Torah, which means no mixing of meat and dairy and no pork or shellfish. The meal begins with a blessing over a wedding loaf of braided challah bread. Often the bride and groom lead the blessing and will then bring a piece of challah to each table, greeting their guests. The traditional Jewish wedding meal involves several prayers at specific times and dancing after the meal. Lively Israeli folk music creates the involvement of the guests at the wedding rather than just couples. The wedding celebration is meant to be a community event.
The Jewish wedding dance most widely known is the hora, or traditional dance of celebration, where the bride and groom are lifted in chairs on the shoulders of their guests. It can be a simple dance where the bride and groom are lifted and the crowd circles around them or, they may be paraded around the room or circled around each other, holding the ends of a handkerchief. While the dance can occur whenever “the spirit hits" during the reception, it’s probably a good idea to keep it early in the festivities before lifters (and a few of those should be designated and taught how to lift properly) partake in too much celebration. No one wants to have hora horror stories!
The Jewish Food and Culture Festival is the perfect opportunity for the uninitiated to be part of this wonderful Jewish ceremony filled with romance and tradition. It is also an excellent occasion to eat delicious food, learn more about Judaic culture and heritage, and Temple Beth Telfilloh’s 125-year history in the Golden Isles. For more information about the Jewish Food and Culture Festival and Temple Beth Telfilloh, visit their website at bethtefilloh.org.
Come raise a glass in fellowship. L’chaim!
