Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 January 2003 — Page 2

IN 2 January 22. 2003

Jewish weddings blend modernity and tradition

Among the many customs and rituals in Judaism, none are as sacred or as steeped in tradition as the institution of marriage. In fact, in Hebrew the term for entering wedlock is Kiddushin, or sanctification. The first of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah is "Pe'ru Urvu," be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28).

The Talmud records that "one who does not carry out this mitzvot causes God's presence to vanish." It states further that "one who does not have a wife lives without joy, without bliss, without happiness." (Yevamot 62b). In the Zohar it says that God creates new worlds constantly by causing marriages to take place.

Modernity and tradition A Jewish wedding today is likely to combine modernity with tradition. The traditions include the signing of the ketubah - the marriage contract - which is part of every Jewish wedding. Traditionally the ketubah is written in Aramaic, but today ketubahs that combine both Aramaic and English are com-

mon. Machine-produced ketubahs are available and are still the ones most used; however, a growing number of young couples are having their ketubahs individually produced - works of art customized in design and words for them. There also is the giving, or exchange, of rings. The giving

something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, everything Westin.

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and accepting of the ring in the presence of witnesses is the most important part of the wedding ceremony. According to Jewish law, the marriage is legalized when the bridegroom places the ring on the bride's finger and recites the ancient formula: "Behold thou art consecrated unto me with this ring, according to the Law of Moses and Israel." There is a legal significance to the ring. As an article of value, it must belong to the bridegroom and is not to be borrowed. Even when the ceremony is conducted in English, the bridegroom is urged to pronounce the age-old formula of Continued on page 4

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