Engagement — Tenaim (Vort)
A vort is a celebration held after the signing and public reading of the tenaim (an agreement of intent between the parents that sets out each party’s obligations and the wedding date).
Chuppah — Jewish wedding
Explore the Jewish wedding: the meaning of chuppah and kiddushin, wedding customs and preparation for married life, with traditional sources.
Shabbat Chatan
The events of Shabbat Chatan depend on the community to which the family belongs. Among Ashkenazi Jews, this Shabbat usually takes place before the wedding (and is also known by the Yiddish name aufr…
The Week of Sheva Brachot
In Judaism, the week after the wedding is called the week of Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings). This is a unique festive period that takes the place of the familiar secular concept of a “honeymoon.” In…
Jerusalem Customs
“Jerusalem customs” (Minhagei Yerushalayim) are a unique body of Jewish traditions that developed over centuries within the ultra-Orthodox community of Jerusalem’s Old City. These rules are distingui…
Hina — Henna Night
Removing Jewelry and Untying Knots
Before stepping under the chuppah, the bride and groom often remove all their jewelry, and any ties on the groom’s clothing are untied. This emphasizes that they accept each other as they are—for who…
The Groom's White Kittel
The custom of wearing a kittel at a wedding belongs to the Ashkenazi tradition (Jews of Central and Eastern Europe). Among Sephardim (Jews of the Iberian Peninsula and the Middle East), as well as ot…