Marriage & funeral ceremonies

Question 1

where does a marriage take place

Answer 1

in a synagogue

Question 2

who conducts a marriage ceremony

Answer 2

a rabbi

Question 3

when doesn’t a marriage ceremony happen

Answer 3

shabbat

Question 4

describe a marriage ceremony

Answer 4

• the couple will be under a chuppah/canopy which symbolises their future home
• as the bride approaches the chuppah she circles it 7 times to represent the 7 blessings and 7 days of creation
• the bride and grooms family and relatives a present at the ceremony
• the couple recites 2 blessings over wine and rings are exchanged
• the ketubah is read and given to the bride. it is a statement of duties that the husband owes the wife for example support of the children and wife in a divorce and it is written in Aramaic
• the seven blessings are recited by the rabbi, bride and groom
• the groom will break a glass wrapped in cloth under his heel to symbolise the destruction the temple and to show his regret of not having the wedding there
• lastly the bride and groom get to spend some time together alone in a private room

Question 5

why doesn’t the funeral happen at the synagogue

Answer 5

because the synagogue is regarded as a place of living

Question 6

which prayer is said to the dying person

Answer 6

Kadish is said to the dying person

and if they’re strong enough they can recite the shema

Question 7

what are jewish men burried in

Answer 7

a kittel and tallit

Question 8

what is used to bury the deceased

Answer 8

a plain wooden coffin

Question 9

state 4 things that the mourners do at a funeral service

Answer 9

1- mourners stay with the deceased and it is never left alone before burial
2-mourners make a small tear on their clothes as a sign of mourning
3-mourners escort the body to the grave\
4-mourners shovel earth on top of the coffin as it is lowered into the ground
5-mourners and everyone else do a ritual of washing their hands before leaving the cemetery to symbolise leaving death behind

Question 10

briefly descirbe what is done at the service

Answer 10

• burial is done on the same day of death (24hrs)
• the jewish burial society prepare the body
• the body is transported directly to the cemetery for burial
• psalms are read, prayers are said and the rabbi says a few words about the deceased

Question 11

explain what Chevra Kaddisha is

Answer 11

Chevra Kadisha is the burial society-the people who see to the preparation of the body

• Jews are not required to cremate the body
• burial happens soon after death (24hrs)
• somebody stays with the body while candles are lit besides it as the body awaits burial
• family members may choose to be involved