Five Step Approach In Jewish Marriage

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A ritual "is a sequence of events involving motions, words, and objects, performed according to set sequence”. In addition, a religious ritual is a solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order (Michael, 2012). The ritual I have chosen to investigate is Jewish Marriage. This ritual will be analysed using Lovat’s five-step approach.
Marriage in Judaism is recognised as a very blessed tradition. This sacred bond is actually called a Kiddushin, which translates to ‘purification’ or ‘commitment’. The dedication of marriage demonstrates that the couple now have a select relationship and they are “one spirit in two bodies”.
Lovat’s first step in his five step approach states that the participant(s) must leave the ordinary or mundane world and enter upon the ritual. In the very first stage of the Jewish marriage, the Choson and Kallah must not see each other for the entire week prior to the wedding. By doing so, the couple are in fact leaving their ordinary world and entering upon the marriage ritual. In addition to the week of separation, the couple are also considered as royalty and cannot be seen in public without a personal escort. This begins a few days prior to the ceremony and continues until one week after the wedding.
The second step in Lovat’s five step approach involves the participant …show more content…

In Jewish law, a couple’s marriage becomes official when the Choson gives an object of value, traditionally a gold ring, to the Kallah. Under clear view of the two witnesses, the ring is placed on the forefinger of the Kallah’s right hand. The Choson (groom) declares to the Kallah (bride), "Behold, you are betrothed unto me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel." According to Jewish law, this is the central moment of the wedding ceremony, and at this point the couple is fully

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