Teaching About The Ultimate Jewish

On Shavuot when the Jewish people celebrate receiving the Torah, the relationship of the Jewish people to God is compared to that of a bride and groom. In honor of Shavuot, create a unique opportunity to explore this metaphor and teach about the customs and ritual of a major life cycle event by staging a mock wedding in your class or school. Follow up the activity with a discussion or writing assignment about how Shavuot and Matan Torah are like a wedding. Below is the explanation of the traditional wedding ceremony. Use this as a guide in planning your “wedding” celebration. In planning the event, assign different groups of students to prepare for different aspects of the wedding: invitations, decorations, clothing/costumes, refreshments, etc. In addition, assign specific students with the role of bride, groom, , parents of the bride and groom, witnesses, etc.

Kabbalat Panim: On their wedding day, the bride and groom are likened to a queen and king. In the beginning of the wedding at the kabbalat panim, literally “welcoming the guests,” the bride sits on a throne-like chair as she greets her guests.

The Groom’s Tisch At the same time as the kabbalat panim, the groom sits at the head of a table in a separate room with his guests, and they all sing and drink in his honor. At a traditional tisch, this is the point where the , the contract, is signed. The ketubah is later given by the groom to the bride. The contract is signed by two witnesses to certify the groom’s obligations to the bride and the marriage.

At the conclusion of the signing of the ketubah, the mothers of the bride and groom break a plate. This ceremony serves as a symbol that the marriage has been agreed upon by both parties. B’deken The b’deken, from a Hebrew/ word meaning to “check,” is a ceremony that originated in Biblical times when Jacob “checked” to ensure that he was marrying Rachel after having been tricked into marrying Leah, Rachel’s older sister, seven years earlier.

The groom is encircled by family and friends and danced toward his bride. At this point, the groom will place a over the bride’s face to indicate that she is the correct one.

Often parents and/or grandparents bless the bride and groom at this point in the ceremony.

Chuppah The chuppah is the large canopy under which the bride, groom, parents and clergy stand and represents the bride and groom’s first home together. The ceremony begins with the groom being escorted down the aisle by his parents. At this point, the groom puts on a kittel, a ceremonial white gown that represents purity.

The bride is then escorted down the aisle by her parents. The groom will step up to greet the bride, and the bride then circles the groom seven times.

The ceremony under the chuppah is composed of two separate ceremonies – the / and nisuin. While originally, the ceremonies were celebrated within months of each other, they are now merely separated by a glass of wine. The kiddushin/erusin, or sanctification/betrothal ceremony, will begin with the recitation of marital blessings. Following the blessings, the bride and groom drink the first glass of wine. At this point, the groom presents the bride with a ring, and recites the phrase:

Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the laws of Moses and Israel.

The nisuin ceremony consists of the sheva berakhot, seven blessings. The sheva berakhot consist of blessings for the couple as they begin their marriage. The blessings are recited over a second cup of wine, which the bride and groom drink after the final blessing is said. The chuppah ceremony concludes with breaking a glass in commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem.

The celebration continues with a festive meal, replete with singing and dancing to help the bride and groom rejoice.

Following the “wedding” celebration, discuss with your students why they think the marriage metaphor is used to describe the relationship between God and the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. Consider the following questions:

x What does a wedding symbolize? What is the significance of this ceremony? x How could you compare the different aspects of a to components of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai? Make a chart (or use the chart below) comparing specific elements of a wedding to components of Matan Torah. Read Shemot 19 and 20 for the full account of the events at Mount Sinai. x Describe the relationship between a bride and groom. What characterizes their relationship? x Describe the relationship between God and the Jewish people. What characterizes their relationship? x In what ways is the relationship between a bride and groom similar to that between God and the Jewish people? In what ways is it different? x Why do you think that Jewish tradition chose to relate God’s giving of the Torah to the Jewish people to a wedding? x What do you think of this comparison? Do you like it? Why or why not? A Jewish Wedding and Matan Torah: A Comparison Chart

Element of a Component of Explanation of why you Jewish Wedding Matan Torah made this comparison

Bride

Groom

B’deken

Chuppah

Ketubah

Ring

Witnesses

Festive Meal