A JEWISH WEDDING.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 393, 22 October 1880, Page 7

A JEWISH WEDDING.

It was when staying with a friend at Tangiers, on a brief visit from Gibraltar to the north coast of Africa, says a correspondent of the Sunday Magazine, that I saw the ceremony of a Jewish wedding. One of the sons of a Jewish consul was about to be married to tho daughter of a Hebrew banker and silversmith. My friend was invited to attend, and the invitation was kindly extended to me and two English officers who had crossed over with me from Gibraltar, and who were also guests of my host. The marriage took place ia au open courtyard in front of the banker's house, before a large attendance of Jews and Christians. The Jews do not think it necessary to be married in a synagogue, for, in their opinion, any place where prayers are offered up is by that act consecrated. At the east end of the quadrangle, and facing the visitors, was a large white and yellow silk canopy, supported at each of its four corners by long poles, which were held by four bronzed young Hebrews. Beneath the canopy was a table, on which were a massive silver goblet and some empty wine-glasses. At the side of the table was a rabbi, with his white silk talith over his head, awaiting the arrival of the bride and bridegroom. He had not long to remain expectant, for the bridegroom, attended by his father, very shortly afterward entered the courtyard, and took his stand under the canopy, all around crying out : " Blessed is he that cometh I " Poon after his arrival the bride appeared through the parting crowd of spectators, and was led under the canopy, and then three times conducted round her future husband, thereby fulfilling the command of Jeremiah ; " The woman shall compass a man." The "bridegroom, after this, escorted his bride around the outside of the canopy ; whilst the Jewish guests threw grains of corn upon them, saying : "Be fruitful and multiply." "He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest wheat." The couple now entered again under the canopy, and stood facing each other, opposite to the rabbi. The marriage ceremony then commenced. The rabbi filled one of the empty glasses with wine from the silver goblet, and taking it in his hand, amid profound silence gave the blessing. The engaged couple then tasted the wine, and immediately afterward the bridegroom put a ring on the bride's finger, repenting the Hebrew after the rabbi : " Behold thou art betrothed unto me with this ring, according to the rites of Moses and Israel." And now the tedious proceeding of reading the KethvvaJt, or marriage contract, took place. It was written in Chaldee, and was read aloud in that language ; and as it was a tongue certainly " not understanded by the people," and the burning rays of an African sun were almost vertical, we were all greatly relievei when this most uninteresting performance was over. The rabbi, having ended, took a glass of wine, stood in front of the united pair, and pronounced the seven blessings. These blessings uttered, the new husband and wife tasted the second glass of wine and then an empty glass was placed on the floor, upon -which the husband stamped, crushing it to atoms. All now cried out with one voice : " Mazal to?v" — " Good luck I " and the marriage ceremony was over. The crushing cf glass is to remind man that God can as easily crush him, and that, therefore, man should direct his thoughts not only to earthly things, but to those above.