DearDiary Logo
Public DiariesHomeLogin

Pragmatist
Pragmatist

A Jewish Engagement
Mon Dec 13 2004

At a Jewish wedding a glass is broken at the end of the ceremony.

I saw something new, to me, tonight. A couple who have been more or less "seeing" each other for a couple years, announced their engagement at one of our evening classes. The "official" engagement was tonight with a big party at the Rabbi and Rebbetzin's home. After blessings and mazel tovs and eating (Jewish occasions always involve food!), the engagement became official and binding when the couple broke a plate.

The plate was put in a paper bag, and the couple held the bag and together dropped the plate to the floor to shatter it.

More mazel tovs and dancing. And all that food!!!!!!!

This couple is not new at this marriage business. They've both been married before and have grown children. I've been wondering ever since I first sensed there was something between them how long it would take for them to get their personal roadblocks out of the way. The chupah will be in May, and they will live in Israel. (He already lives there, and comes back to Sacramento from time to time). She said they were hoping for a large enough house to welcome any visitors from Sacramento. But not all at once! *smile*


*********
Another official announcement. As of this moment, I am banning sweets from my diet. I have gained six pounds these last two weeks. And I have to see my doctor on Wednesday. Where am I going to hide those 6 pounds? I don't think he'll care much for the explanation "Well, it is the holiday season, y'know."

And that's it for tonight.

Shalom

7 Comments
  • From:
    Calichef (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 13 2004
    Well, mazel tov to the happy couple! Good luck on the no sweets rule. I know how hard that is to do.
    Love,
    ~Cali
    P.S. I'm #1962, my birth year. Cool, huh?
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 13 2004
    i have often wondered at the significance behind the glass breaking, perhaps you could shed some light on the reasons. also, what significance does breaking the plate hold?

    *hugs*

    sez
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 13 2004
    A Jewish wedding and just plain gathering always has joy and bonding that is special. It seems we have forgotten how to mix and join in when caught up in such occasions.
    It brought to mind how a hunting buddy and I were
    caught up in such an ocassion ,
    Our bird hunting trip turned out on a very harsh
    note for we were offered the use of a small travel travel trailer of a friend of his parked by the Vast Tule Kake fedral refuge. This area is flat and marsh land that holds hundreds of thousands of waterfowl . The weather can change so quickly here and zero seems warm. We had left home after work and drove some 75 miles to find the trailer and the cold wind was dropping like a rock. Upon opening the trailer door the floor was covered with a inch of ICE. and everything was coated with ice beds, stove,just a mess. Seems his friend had not shut off the water as he left a few days before,
    So we ended up sleeping in a Hay barn of a friend of mine. We crawled into our sleeping bags under bales of hay stracked over and around us for we we exhausted. At 4 in the morming the alarm went off and I felt cozy warm as two barn cats had crawled into my bag to keep warm.
    Man it was cold and the hunting was going to be an adventure . We did get a few birds and it was dark by the time we got back to the small town of Dorris.
    We were tired and really dirty covered with mud
    There was only one small resterant/Bar in town and muddy hunters were always welcome, we just wanted a drink and a bite to eat but as I neared the door loud music and laughter was pouring out.
    As I opened the door and the place was filled with people having a party. There was a sign just inside the double entery way doors that they were closed for a private wedding party.
    Oh boy just as we turned to leave a tall man smiling grabed my hunting coat and said to please come in and join them. Here we are to dirty hunters and he ushered us in saying dirt is good and would not let us leave.
    It was a Portuguse Wedding and boy were they having fun . He took our coats and announced to all that he had invited us to join the happy occaision. Food and lots of wine with happy people dancing and so much open warmth one rarlel finds in a lifetime. They would not let you be a bystander for you must join in this happy time. Picture a scuzy dressed in CAMO dancing with the Bride and having observed that each man she chose was pinning money on her flowing dress. Nice custom and I think I danced with all the ladies there, The Portuguse sure are a fun loving people and it was after 3 before they let us leave .
    There were a number of Basque Sheep herders there also and I learned so much of customs and styles of dancing like I had never seen.
    At last my buddy returned to the barn and warm cats half smashed and sleep came so easy. Needless to say we never made the morning flight hunting but the pouring of warmth and love of happy people still fills me with a glow. Why can't
    the world be like that all over ??

  • From:
    Dreamerbooks2003 (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 13 2004
    You and doc must forgive 6 pounds. Everyone gains 6 lbs in December. You need the extra to keep warm in winter..
    ;-)
    My son and his wife also did the breaking of glass at their wedding (mazel tovs)
    I had no idea it was coming..
    I am happy for your couple's engagement.. and now you have a place to go when you visit Israel.
    *hugs*
    PeG



  • From:
    Monstergue (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 13 2004
    Banning sweets?? Why, dear lady, you might wither away to nothing!!! I guess I will just have to eat your share, too.

    Hugs & Love
  • From:
    CovertOps (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 14 2004
    Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov! I wish the joyful couple every happiness!

    Banning sweets is a bad idea. Reducing them makes better sense. I have lost 3 pounds since Murphy's death. I can't bring myself to eat, so all I do is drink coffee.

    Lots of Love,
    E.L.
  • From:
    Fairywishes (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 14 2004
    oh my goodness, good luck on the sweet ban, you are brave...

    x
    x