(Image: A Jewish Scottish wedding) When it comes to planning an interfaith wedding many interfaith couples want to integrate elements of both partners’ traditions into their wedding ceremony. Personally, I like to get the whole picture before I plan an event. So I’m going to give you a link to a traditional Orthodox explanation of…
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Putting an Irish element into your Jewish wedding
A Jewish woman wrote to me asking about how to include something Irish in her wedding to reflect her fiancé’s Irish heritage. Here’s what she asked. My fiancé and I are starting to plan our wedding for next spring. Neither of us is particularly religious. I’m proudly Jewish and he is Irish and was…
Read More »The Chuppah (Wedding canopy)
Having a chuppah is a beautiful Jewish custom. Chuppah, חוּפָּה in Hebrew means “covering”. On ReformJudaism.org, Rabbi Victor Appell describes the chuppah this way. The canopy under which Jewish couples stand when they are married is called a chuppah. The chuppah represents the new home a couple establishes through their marriage. It also represents the…
Read More »Why is it so hard to find a rabbi for multi-faith wedding?
I received this inquiry recently: Some gay friends wanted a “fully multifaith ceremony.” They felt rejected when no rabbi would agree to co-officiate, but Christian clergy would. I’m not sure how to help them address their feelings in the aftermath. — Sympathetic Friend I answered the question in my monthly Mixed and Matched column for…
Read More »Will you have a Chuppah for your Wedding?
Having a chuppah or wedding canopy is not a Jewish requirement; in other words it is not stipulated in Jewish law. It is, however, a Jewish custom and very lovely. The traditional chuppah has four portable poles and a piece of cloth hanging attached at the four corners to the poles. You can use a…
Read More »Shifting Traditions: A film & discussion
In the short film, Shifting Traditions, three interfaith couples take three different approaches to religion in their family. Then the film maker speaks with some rabbis who reflect differing views on intermarriage. Is there a right and a wrong? Come see the film and discuss the choices and rewards that are open to every interfaith…
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