Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 January 2003 — Page 9

January 22. 2003 IN 9

Weddings Continued from page 4 riage, demonstrating that marriage is a union of families, not just individuals, and acknowledging the parents' dreams and efforts for their children's happiness. The chuppah Says Diamant, "The chuppah, or bridal canopy, is variously considered a symbol of the new home being created, a covering (its literal meaning) and a reminder of the tents of our nomadic ancestors." When a portable chuppah is used, it is supported by four poles held by four honored guests. The four represent the community, and the chuppah may be carried in as part of the processional. In the past, many couples married under a tallit, which was frequently a gift from the bride or her family to the bridegroom. In Israel today the tallit is used to spread over the heads of the couple, and in this country the custom has made a comeback. Sephardic Jews make use of both customs: couples stand under the chuppah and a tallit covers their heads. The fathers are also under the chuppah, and they make sure the tallit stays in place. The tallit symbolizes the first home of the newlyweds, compared to the chuppah in Ashkenazic tradition. Circling Circling of the groom by the bride is a very old custom with different variations. Some circle three times, in commemoration of different biblical verses. According to Diamant, "Circling is a magi-

cal means of protection. It may be seen as a binding of the bridegroom to the bride, the creation of a new family circle." Most Orthodox ceremonies require circling. Liberal Jews have abandoned the custom because of its magical connotations and apparent subservience of the bride around her "master." Recent innovations are that the bride circles the groom while the groom circles the bride in the opposite direction; or they hold hands, creating a circle and walking around together.

Eyes and stomach Fasting of the bride and groom on the wedding day is observed by Orthodox and some Conservative congregations. It is done by most Ashkenazic and some Sephardic communities. The function of the fast is to impress upon the couple the solemnity of the day, much like the fast on Yom Kippur and to start their new life together with a clean slate. All Jewish celebrations are punctuated by the blessing over the wine, and weddings are no exception. Twice during the ceremony the bride and

groom drink from the same cup after saying the blessing; in fact, the last of the seven blessings recited during the ceremony is the blessing over the wine. At the reception of some Sephardic weddings there will be five almonds wrapped in nylon netting and tied with a bow. The almonds represent the five books of Moses. Also at Sephardic wedding receptions you'll find traditional foods, such as stuffed grape leaves, borekas (spinach and cheese wrapped in filo dough), a rice and milk dish, and spe-

cial desserts such as baklava. Some of the music played will be klezmer, and some of the words will be in Ladino, which is a language similar to Yiddish, a combination of Spanish and Hebrew instead of German and Hebrew. Not seeing one another before the ceremony is considered mere superstition, though it is argued that it does enhance the emotional impact of later seeing each other as bride and groom. Breaking the glass The Jewish outlook always Continued on page 11

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