JEWISH WEDDING RINGS: AN OLD TRADITION, OR A MUST HAVE?
JEWISH WEDDING RINGS
The bestowal of the Jewish wedding ring is a prominent and emotionally-charged moment in the Jewish wedding ceremony.
According to tradition, the Jewish wedding ring is a gift given to the bride by the groom during kidushim in the Jewish Wedding ceremony. It seals the deal, so to speak. The Jewish wedding ring ceremony begins when the ring is examined by the Rabbi who checks its wholeness, makes sure it’s worth is more than a pruta (a coin of small value) and that it is indeed the property of the groom to give away. The groom, then, places the ring on his bride’s right index finger. At the end of the ceremony, the bride moves it to the “ring finger” of her left hand.
In fact, the Jewish wedding ring serves a dual purpose: it is a symbol of the bride and groom’s commitment to each other– like the ring that represents an unbroken circle. Moreover, the Jewish wedding ring, in its simple, minimalistic and perfect shape is said to be a portent for a smooth equable life together for the couple.
Traditionally, Jewish wedding rings should be totally unadorned and without gems or stones. The Jewish wedding ring was to be one continuous circle, whose metal should not be cut through or pierced. Nowadays, rings are usually gold, are often engraved on the inside, or alternatively, have a continuous design or a Hebrew saying engraved or in raised letters They may be made of any type of metal, as well. The two-ring ceremony has also been adopted in accordance to the wishes of the couple.
Currently, the Jewish wedding ring custom, and a lot of these traditions are being rediscovered and “renewed and revived” by couples seeking to blend tradition with a modern outlook on marriage.
One of the most significant of modern Jewish wedding traditions is the art Ketubah. The Ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract, a type of a prenuptial agreement, that serves to protect a wife’s right to financial support.
The new Ketubahs are made in a wide range of designs with more modern content; which matches the tastes and style of couples who desire to continue this meaningful Jewish wedding tradition.
Prominent among the many artists who offer beautifully-designed ketubot is Danny Azoulay, an Israeli Ketubah artist who specializes in paper cut ketubot. These paper cut ketubot are the fruit of an inspired and creative sense of design that can also be personalized upon request.
