MARRIAGE AND THE

FAMILY IN JUDAISM

MARRIAGE

Judaism views marriage as the ideal human state. The

Torah and the Talmud view a man without a wife, or a
woman without a husband as incomplete. A man who
does not marry is not a complete person. Any man who
has no wife lives without joy, without blessing, and
without goodness.

Holy and sanctification of life

Views marriage as purposeful

Jews marry a jewish partner to avoid difficulties in

raising their child.

BEFORE THE WEDDING

Performing Kabbalat Panim
- a customary for the bride and the groom not to
see each other one week before the wedding
Badeken
- veiling of the bride by the groom.
Groom is called forward in synagogue to read the
Torah and be greeted with cries of Mazal tov
Goodluck as he finished .
It is traditional for the groom and the bride to fast to
sake forgiveness for their past mistakes and start their
marriage life with clean state.

THE WEDDING
The cantor sings a greeting or welcome the groom
and the bride
The couples are address briefly
The rabbi recites blessings over a cup of wine.
The wine is passed to the groom and bride who
both drink in from the same cup.
The ketuba is read.
The groom places a plain gold ring on the brides
right hand .
The Seven Blessings are now recited over the
second cup of wine by the Rabbi.

CHUPPAH

The groom will shatters a glass with his foot. Serves

as an expression of sadness at the destruction of
Temple in Jerusalem.

The couple is then escorted to a private room yichud

room and left alone for a few minutes. This moments
signify their new status as married.

In traditional communities , the celebrations continue

for whole week.

DIVORCE
Divorce, like an amputation, is a tragedy, but
sometimes its the right thing to do.

GET

Bill of divorce from the husband to the wife.

Serves not only as a proof of the dissolution of the

marriage in the event that one or both wish to
remarry, it actually effects the divorce.

Without a get, no matter how long the couple is

separated, and no matter how many civil
documents they may have in their file cabinet, in
the eyes of the jewish law the couple is still 100%
married.

PARENTS AND CHILDREN

There is a very close relationship between Jewish

parents and their children partly because the life
of a Jewish Family is filled with ritual ceremony
and celebration.

Jewish parents are expected to raise their child

to be moral people. Jewish literature is filled with
wise sayings which guide parents and children.

FAMILY LIFE

The life of a Jewish family keeping all the customs is

full of different traditions. There are many festivals,
blessings connected to different life situations,
special clothes and special foods. These traditions
bring family members closer together and help all to
share a common life, common values, and common
spirituality.

The Hebrew term for family is Mishpacha and tends

to denote not only parents and children, but
grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

FESTIVALS

Jews

have many festivals and special during the

course of the year, which are observed at home as

well in the synagogue. Some are these are the
major celebrations when ordinary day-to-day affairs
such as working, going to school or shopping must
cease. Instead jews spend a great deal of time at
prayer or celebrating with their families.

SABBATH

Considered to be the most important of all the Jewish

religious festivals.

a day of rest celebrated on the seventh day of each week.

beginsjust before sundown Friday night. Its start is

marked by the lighting of Shabbat candlesand the
recitation of Kiddushover a cup ofwine; and

Shabbat endsat nightfall Saturday night. Its conclusion

is marked by the prayer known asHavdalah

CELEBRATING PESACH
Significance:Remembers the Exodus from Egypt
Observances:Avoiding all leavened grain
products and related foods; Family or communal
retelling of the Exodus story
Length:8 days (Some: 7 days)

Avoiding Chametz (Leaven) : It commemorates the

fact that the Jews leaving Egypt where in a hurry,
and did not have time to let their bread rise.

THE PESACH SEDER

Must observed during Seder:
1. Kaddesh: Sanctification
2. Urechatz: Washing
3. Karpas: Vegetable
4. Yachatz: Breaking
5. Maggid: The Story
6. Rachtzah: Washing
7. Motzi: Blessing over Grain Products

8. Matzah: Blessing over Matzah

9. Maror: Bitter Herbs
10. Korekh: The Sandwich
11. Shulchan Orekh: Dinner
12. Tzafun: The Afikomen
13. Barekh: Grace after Meals
14. Hallel: Praises
15. Nirtzah: Closing