Why do we need to get married with a plain rings?

A plain ring in any metal represents the cycle of life. It is unbroken to represent the couple’s commitment to each other. After the ceremony, the band can be changed.

Why break a glass?

There are many different traditions regarding the breaking of the glass. The one which I like is that a glass is extremely fragile, just as a relationship is fragile. When the glass falls from a height or is stamped beneath the heel, it breaks into hundreds of fragments which cannot be repaired. If you treat each other with gentle love and care, your marriage will stand the test of time.

Will you officiate with a member of another clergy?

I feel that the ceremony, although it may be between an interfaith couple, is still Jewish and therefore; I do not officiate with clergy of other religions.

Will you do a wedding on a Saturday?

I am available on Saturday evenings, all day and evenings on Sundays as well as other days of the week. As I celebrate the Shabbat, I will not officiate on a Friday night of Saturday until sundown.

Are you comfortable officiating at Interfaith Ceremonies?

I welcome couples of different backgrounds, religions and sexes. As part of the wedding process, I meet with each couple several times to create a ceremony that speaks to them and to engage in a dialogue about their relationship.

Do you recommend any books about weddings?

My favorite book on weddings is The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant. Anita explains the Jewish wedding ceremony, and ways to make it personal.

What is a Ketubah?

The Ketubah is a beautifully ornamental document that expresses the relationship which the wedding couple shares. It speaks of the promises that the couple makes to each other, and traditionally when signed by two kosher witnesses, the bride and groom, and the rabbi, it indicates that they are married. The concept of a Ketubah comes from the Talmud, but the sentiment has been changed to meet the times. Ketubot (the plural of Ketubah) are usually so beautiful that the married couple hang them in their home to remind them of their commitment to each other.

What is a Chuppah?

A Chuppah is a canopy used in the wedding ceremony to symbolize the home that the couple creates together. It is open on all sides to allow friends and family to share in the joys and moments of sadness in the lives of the couple. It also represents openness to the beauty of the world and yet, the couple is sheltered by the structure in the Holy place they have created together.

What is a Kiddish Cup and why are two used in the wedding ceremony?

A Kiddish cup is a special metal or ceramic cup that is used to fill with wine and sanctify occasions from the weekly Shabbat to baby namings and weddings. The word Kiddush in Hebrew means Holy or separate and with a sip from the cup, we acknowledge the specialness of the moment. Traditionally the wedding ceremony took place over a year. The first ceremony included the transfer of the dowry of the bride’s family to the groom as well as the tenaim, the vows that the groom and bride took. At this time, wine sanctified the event. A year later, the second ceremony took place, with the formal uniting of the couple and a second cup of wine. During the Middle Ages, these ceremonies were joined, and the two cups of wine served as a reminder of the earlier arrangement.

Rabbi Renee Edelman • Phone: 973-313-1771 • E-mail: rabbirenee@aol.com