Brit Milah and Marriage
Brit Milah
Jewish ceremony of circumcision of an infant boy. is the ritual of The removal of the foreskin from the penis performed by a qualified mohel on all Jewish boys, usually on the eighth day after birth. Also known as Brit Milah. and dates back to the covenant made between God and Abraham. The Law; teaching. The word Torah can be used in a narrow sense to mean the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (The Five Books of Moses) and also in a wider sense to include the whole of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud. reminds Jews of this important sign of the covenant: Every male among you shall be circumcised. (Genesis 17:10)
The ritual is usually done at home seven or eight days after a boy’s birth. It is carried out by a A person trained to perform Brit Milah., a person specifically trained to carry out circumcision. A blessing is said before the circumcision is carried out. The boy is given his The ancient language of the Jewish people. The language of the Torah, the Temple and the modern state of Israel. name and the A prayer sanctifying the Sabbath and festival days, usually recited over wine. is said. There is then a celebratory meal.
Marriage
Betrothal
Betrothal, or Betrothal. The first stage of the Jewish wedding process., is usually a 12-month engagement period before a wedding. Traditionally, a ceremony would be held a year before the wedding to mark the betrothal.
In Jews who live by the Torah and rabbinic law (halakhah) and who only accept changes that can be supported by the Torah. Judaism it is traditional for the couple not to see each other for a week before the wedding ceremony.
Wedding ceremony
A Jewish wedding can happen on any day other than The seventh day of the week; a day of spiritual renewal and rest commencing at sunset on Friday and terminating at nightfall on Saturday. or one of the Jewish festivals.
There are several stages to the wedding ceremony:
- The couple To go without food and drink for a set period of time. before the wedding to cleanse themselves of sin.
- A wedding ceremony happens underneath the A canopy used during a Jewish wedding. It is representative of the couple’s home.. The chuppah symbolises the home that the bride and groom will share together. The groom gives the bride a ring. Alternatively, in Jews who have adapted their laws and practices as modern life has changed. Judaism, the bride and groom give rings to each other.
- Seven wedding blessings are recited, including praising God for his creation.
- The An ordained Jewish religious leader who is trained in interpreting and applying the sacred scriptures to contemporary issues and circumstances. blesses the couple.
- The bride and groom sign the Jewish marriage contract stating the rights and obligations of both partners. in front of witnesses.
- The bride and groom share a glass of wine. The groom then breaks the glass under his foot to show regret for the destruction of the The central place of Jewish worship in Jerusalem from biblical times until AD70. and to symbolise the fact that life involves hardship as well as happiness.
- The people at the wedding wish the couple good luck.
- The bride and groom have a short time together in a private room.
- There is a wedding reception. Orthodox Jews also have separate receptions for men and women before the wedding.
Jewish marriage is not just legal partnership, but a union between two people that is blessed by God. In this way, marriage shows holiness in everyday life. It is the foundation upon which the family home is built and fulfils the commandment to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:22).
A spiritual bond is created through the merging of two souls.
Hence a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, so that they become one flesh.
Question
Why can’t Jewish people get married on a Saturday?
They cannot marry on Saturday because this is the Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest.
