| So the Yenta has done her work and the marriage | | | | will form part of the service and ongoing celebrations. |
| has been arranged or maybe today the couple have | | | | Seven is an important number in the Jewish religion |
| done it all on their own. However it happened the | | | | recalling the seven days of creation in the book of |
| planning will now be underway for a traditional Jewish | | | | Genesis. Following the presentation of the ring, |
| wedding. As in most cultures and communities a | | | | speeches and the breaking of a glass by the groom, |
| wedding is a rite of passage, a celebration of great | | | | recalling the destruction of the Temples the newly |
| import and involves centuries old traditions and | | | | married couple go to a room apart to spend some |
| ceremonies. As kosher food is one of the central | | | | time alone together and to break their fast. |
| aspects of Jewish faith and culture, traditional Jewish | | | | As in other cultures and faiths the wedding is |
| wedding food will play and an important role in the | | | | followed by a party involved food drink and dancing. |
| celebration of the wedding. Even before the day of | | | | However what food is served may depend upon the |
| the wedding the rituals associated with the history of | | | | historical roots of the families. Jews belong to two |
| the faith will be held. One of these is held in the | | | | main ethnic origins and the historical background of |
| week before the actual ceremony and is known as | | | | these two cultures may be evidenced in the style of |
| an Ufruf. The groom is involved in announcing the | | | | the wedding the food served. They are the |
| wedding to the congregation of the synagogue and | | | | Ashkenazi who is of European origin and traditionally |
| is playfully pelted with sweets. The service is then | | | | their menu would be the roast potatoes, meats and |
| followed by a Kiddush when food and drinks are | | | | vegetables familiar to most of us. The Sephardic |
| served. This is the beginning of the week when the | | | | Jews whose roots are in southern Europe and the |
| bride and groom are apart not meeting again until | | | | Middle East may chose a menu based on the spicier |
| they will be married. On the day of the wedding the | | | | flavor of eastern styled foods. It is usual for |
| couple may fast as a symbolic act of ritual cleansing | | | | traditional Jewish wedding food to be kosher food. |
| before beginning their new life free from any sins of | | | | Food is Kosher if it conforms to Jewish dietary laws, |
| the past. | | | | the kashrut, meaning "fit" or "proper." in Hebrew. This |
| During the service which is usually performed by the | | | | can be any food it follows the Halacha or Jewish law. |
| Rabbi, the couple will drink from a cup of wine. This is | | | | So as far as traditional Jewish wedding food goes if |
| significant because it is the first of seven cups that | | | | it's kosher its ok. |