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12
CHAPTER TWELVE
SACRAMENT OF INITIATION
THE
HOLY COMMUNION
THE
BETROTHAL
THE
HOLY COMMUNION
THE
BETROTHAL
The leaving of the cup of wine has other matrimonial implications
connected with the jewish customs of betrothal and marriage
In
Jewish law,
marriage
consists of two separate acts:
·
kiddushin
(or erusin, the betrothal ceremony)
and
·
the wedding ceremony
called,
Nisuin
or
Huppah
In
Talmudic
times, these two ceremonies usually took place about a year apart.
The bride lived with her parents until the actual marriage ceremony.
When
a Jewish young man wished to marry a particular young woman, the
father of the groom went to the home of the father of bride with the
proposal. The groom need not be there at this time. The two fathers
discussed the matter and came up with a price for the bride to be paid
by the groom along with other necessary arrangements and contract
terms. Once the agreement is reached it was sealed by the two
families with a toast of wine. It still leaves the proposal
incomplete until a direct agreement of the girl and the boy are
ratified..
Once the decision was
reached by the parents, the bride will walk in and the groom will rise
(if he is with them or come at a later time) and propose his love for
her. The proposal offer is using the wine cup. To see if the
proposal was accepted, the young man would pour a cup of wine and
drink a portion and offer it to his beloved and wait to see if she
drank it. She need not take the cup and drink it immediately. She
has time to decide. This cup represents a blood covenant. Jewish law
states that a woman could not be forced to marry a man distasteful to
her, and the bride was ultimately allowed to choose whether to accept
or reject the groom’s proposal. If she drank the cup it is considered
as a statement that she has accepted the proposal and they would be
betrothed.
The Cup of Proposal:
“Will you marry me?”
I will come again
Once the proposal is
accepted, he will offer a ring which promised a home for her. Here
is an ancient betrothal ring. Notice the mansion on it..
Silver-Gilt Betrothal Ring, Bearing Letter ם for "Mazal
Ṭob."
(From the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.)
He them makes the
following traditional covenant statement: "Behold you are consecrated
unto me with this ring according to the laws of Moses and Israel."
The young man would then give gifts to his beloved, and then take his
leave. He has to offer it in the presence of at least two
witnesses. A written contract deciding wedding place and time are
also made and signed. This “ketuba” is signed by two witnesses which
includes a description of her right as wife. The whole ceremony was
called the "Shiddukhin," or engagement.
This is to certify that on the______ day of the week, the___________
day of the month of _________, in the year Five Thousand Seven Hundred
and_______years since the beginning of conscious time in the Jewish
tradition, and as we acknowledge it here in____________________,
corresponding to the_________ day of the month of_______, in the
year___________.
The bride,______daughter of_________, and the groom,_______son
of__________, commit to each other; In the wholeness of our love, in
the embrace of Your love, we two separate sparks of the divine choose
to join each other on the soul’s journey of life, nurturing our dreams
to grow and flourish and helping each other become the persons we are
yet to be by sharing our insight and intuition with one another. We
commit to being open to one another, nourishing our commonalities
while cherishing each other’s uniqueness. Under the canopy of Your
love we will strive to overcome our fears, awaken our minds to wisdom,
open our hearts to love, and connect our souls to You. We promise to
comfort and challenge each other through life’s sorrow and joy and
appreciate and respect one another with trust and love. We will be
each other’s allies in our individual healing, Tikun Hanefesh, and in
the healing of the planet, Tikun Olam. Above all we promise to never
allow a single argument or disagreement to see both the moon of night
and the dawn of the next day. We will work together, our souls
intertwined and our love bringing us ever closer, to build a home on a
foundation of love, generosity, and religion. It will be a home for
ourselves and our children dedicated to the love of God wherein the
flow of the seasons and passages of life are celebrated through the
symbols of our Jewish heritage. Our home will be filled with mutual
support, reverence for learning and education, peace, generosity,
kindness, happiness, friendship, and love.
Witness
Witness
Bride
Groom
Rabbi/Officiant/Cantor/Other
The groom then
departed, promising his bride to return and take her home once he
made room for them in his father’s house. Once this is done he
returns and carries her away.
The symbolism Jesus as
the bride groom and the Church as the bride is therefore found every
where in the bible.
Joh
14:1-2 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also
in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I
would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14: 3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh
14: 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Do you want to accept this proposal?
Everytime you take the cup, you are renewing your fidelity to Jesus.
  
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