Significance of Jewish Marriage - To Individuals and Communities

Significance of Jewish Marriage - To The Individuals


The Ketubah is a key feature of the Jewish marriage - it is not just a contractual agreement between husband and wife, but also connects the couple spiritually with the beliefs and traditions of Judaism.

The ketubah states the responsibilities of the man to his wife but it is also a stated affirmation of the responsibilities of God's love and justice to the people of Israel. Every aspect of the wedding ceremony affirms or symbolises God's involvement and control over the lives of the Jewish couple. The ring, the symbol of the marriage covenant between husband and wife, also reminds the couple of the covenant between Abraham and God.


The chuppah - or canopy - over the wedding party shows the importance of the marital home for the family. It is emphatic of the importance of producing and maintaining life, and in doing this Jewish beliefs and tradition (children of a Jewish mother are always considered Jewish).

The Brakot reminds the couple getting married and the people congregated of God's love for his people and of the blessings God has bestowed on his people. It is also a way from turning the attention of the day from the couple towards God. It reminds the couple that God, who gave the couple life and brought them together, will bless them through their lives as he has blessed Abraham and the people of Israel for generations.

The significance of marriage, after the wedding has taken place and the couple begin their life together, includes the responsibilities of the husband and wife. The husband is responsible for the shelter, clothing, food and sexual relations of his wife - thus marriage provides significance for the couple in that they will always protect each other. However, the man's responsibility for providing sexual relations does not mean that he has a 'right' to have sex whenever he feels like it. A woman has her own power in a marriage in that she may retain property (or anything of monetary value) that she owned before the wedding throughout her marriage. Her husband may manage her property, but he does not own it.

Significance of Jewish Marriage - To The Community.

For Jewish people, if they are part of a family, the marriage ceremony either has been or will be a significant part of their life. By definition, a Jewish person is someone who is either born to a Jewish woman or has converted to Judaism. Because of the is and marriage being the platform from which a family can be created and maintained, marriage is vital for continuing the Jewish faith into future generations.

The wedding ceremony also brings together individuals in the community in a celebration of love and happiness. In a marriage taking place, it puts in place services and practices that bring together to the community for the continuation of Jewish traditions which are vital for their faith.

As a worldwide religious community, the Jewish community benefits from the celebration and union of a couple in the expression of tradition and the expansion of that community by the creation of new Jewish life.

References;

Clark, H (2007). Spotlight: Studies of Religion HSC, Chapter 6: Judaism, Science Press, Marrickville, NSW, p. 169.

Image from: http://www.lafamily.com/divorce-custody/bringing-new-baby-blended-family - accesses 6 April 2016.