The Concepts of Marriage and Death

The Concepts of Marriage and Death

Marriage

Kiddushin

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* The process of marriage occurs in two distinct stages: kiddushin

(commonly translated as betrothal) and nisuin (full-fledged

marriage).

* Kiddushin occurs when the woman accepts the money, contract or

sexual relations offered by the prospective husband.

* The ritual of kiddushin sets aside the woman to be the wife of a

particular man and no other.

* Once kiddushin is complete, the woman is legally the wife of the

man. The relationship created by kiddushin can only be dissolved

by death or divorce. However, the spouses do not live together at

the time of the kiddushin, and the mutual obligations created by

the marital relationship do not take effect until the nisuin is

complete.

* The nisuin (from a word meaning "elevation") completes the process

of marriage. The husband brings the wife into his home and they

begin their married life together.

* In the past, the kiddushin and nisuin would routinely occur as

much as a year apart. Today, the two ceremonies are normally

performed together.

Ceremony

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* It is customary for the bride and groom not to see each other for

a week preceding the wedding.

* Traditionally, the day before the wedding, both the bride and the

groom fast.

* Before the ceremony, the bride is veiled, in remembrance of the

fact that Rebecca veiled her face when she was first brought to

Isaac to be his wife.

* The ceremony itself lasts 20-30 minutes, and consists of the

kiddushin and the nisuin...

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...ons,

theatre and concerts. For eleven months of that period, starting

at the time of burial, the son of the deceased recites the

mourner's Kaddish every day.

* After this, they are not allowed to continue with formal mourning.

* Every year, on the anniversary of the death, family members

observe the deceased's Yahrzeit (Yiddish, lit. "anniversary"). On

the Yahrzeit, sons recite Kaddish and take an aliyah (bless the

Torah reading) in synagogue if possible, and all mourners light a

candle in honour of the decedent that burns for 24 hours. In

addition, during services such as on Yom Kippur, and the last day

of Passover, after the haftarah reading in synagogue, close

relatives recite the mourner's prayer, Yizkor in synagogue.

Yahrzeit candles are also lit on those days.