Left: Dana and Scott
Marcus are held aloft at
their wedding reception.

tract. They will frame it to hang in
their home. The couple's Jewish
wedding ended traditionally with
Scott breaking the bar mitzvah
Kiddush cup that had belonged to
Dana's father, Barry La Kritz.
Both families were involved in
the nuptials, symbolically and phys-
ically. Dana wore Scott's grandmother's
pearls and her mom's wedding ring. Scott
wore his grandfather's cufflinks. The family
patriarchs, Dana's grandfather and great-
great uncle, had the honor of blessing and
cutting the challa at the reception. Sisters,
brothers, cousins and friends comprised the
15-member wedding party.
A special contribution from Scott's sister,
Sheri Marcus, ensured that the bride and
groom and all of the guests could relive the
La Kritz-Marcus wedding in perpetuity.
Sheri created www.danaandscott.com , a

Si

Jewish wedding traditions add beauty and
meaning to the ceremony. Newlyweds Jeff
and Clara Surowitz, who soon will be moving
to Israel, had their Jewish wedding last June at
Greenfield Village. They say the traditional
Jewish rituals and customs serve to solemnize
the occasion and gladden the hearts of the
bride and groom. The Surowitzes provided
their guests with a guide to the traditions of
their wedding ceremony.
Here are some highlights:

Chuppa — The chuppa symbolizes the

home to be built and shared by the cou-
ple. It is a canopy, tapestry or tallit (prayer
shawl) supported by four poles. It reminds
us that Jewish weddings traditionally took
place under the stars, and recalls the bless-

Below: Dana and Scott
Marcus stand beneath
their special wedding
canopy made from fami-
ly mementos. They
intend to use the chuppa
as a crib canopy when
they have children.

festive Web site that already has received
3,000 hits. Now that's a tradition Dana
and Scott can share with the world.

Linda Bachrack is a freelance
writer and staff writer for Style
at the Jewish News and Style
magazine.

b ons

ing of God to Abraham that his seed be as
numerous as the stars.

Tend im — Prior to the ceremony, stan-

dard tena'im (conditions) are stipulated in
a document written by the groom, bride
and their respective parents. With the
signing and finalization of this obligation,
the mothers of the bride and groom break
a plate, signifying that the engagement is
irreversible.

Ketuba — The ketuba is the couple's mar-

riage contract, which is signed by two wit-
nesses prior to the wedding ceremony. It is
often read aloud.

Bedeken — Preceding the ceremony, the

groom, escorted by his father, goes for-

ward to veil the bride. This recalls the
matriarch Rebecca's covering of her face
with her veil upon seeing Isaac prior to
their marriage.

Breaking The Glass — The ceremony

concludes with the breaking of a glass. It
serves as a reminder that even at the
height of joy, Jews recall the destruction of
the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Traditionally, the groom steps on a glass or
other breakable that is covered with a
cloth.

Yichud — Following the ceremony, the

bride and groom retire to a private room
for several minutes of yichud (privacy),
sharing their first meal together as a
married couple.

n • sourcebook 2000 •

21