3) Marriage
Marriage is an important part of life for Jews, they
consider it a keystone in fulfilling a person’s pur-
pose in life. The marriage consists on two phases:
1) kiddushin, which is the act in which a woman
is set apart from every other man. An object of
great value is given to her, when she accepts a
permanent relationship is established. 2) Nisu’in,
in which the woman moves to co-reside with her
husband.
The wedding ritual takes place as follows:
1.- The groom signs the ketubah (marriage
contract) in front of four witnesses.
2.- He is led to the bride and covers her face.
3.- Both are led to the chuppah (representa-
tion of an open home) by their parents.
4.- Blessings are recited by a rabbi over wine,
which is then drank by the couple (same
cup).
5.- Exchange of golden rings.
6.- Reading of the ketubah.
7.- The groom stamps on a glass and breaks
it, a symbol of the challenges they will face
as a married couple, and a reminder of the
destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
8.- Celebratory meal
Although it is not encouraged, divorce is
allowed.
4) Death rites
Even though the Jewish religion does not stress
much importance on what happens after death,
the rites for when a person passes are quite char-
acteristic: mirrors are covered, and standing water
is thrown. When a person dies, the family closes
their eyes and mouth, they put the body on the
floor and cover it with a white sheet. A candle is lit
on the head of the deceased person. After bathing
and dressing the body, it is placed in a coffin and
buried as soon as possible (24 hours after death).
Orthodox Jews may tear a part of their
clothing as an expression of grief, Liberal Jews may
wear black ribbons to signify the same thing.