What’s That Mean – Adina And Spencer’s Wedding

Here are some brief definitions of terms/events you might hear.

Abba	Hebrew for Father
Baruch Haba /Baruchim Habaim	Literally meaning “blessed is the one who comes”, it is used to mean “welcome” in Hebrew. The second form is the plural. It is also a verse from psalms traditionally used to welcome the groom: “Welcome in the name of God, welcome in this house of God.”
Bedeken	“Veiling of the bride” comes from the story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel.
Bench/ Benching	Yiddish for “Pray/Praying”, it often means (and does so here) to recite the grace after meals (Birkat Hamazon).
Birkat Hamazon	Hebrew for “Blessing of the Food,” this is the grace after the meal, which at a wedding, is followed by Sheva Brachot (though in a different order from the Chuppah.)
Chatan	Hebrew for Groom.
Chossen’s Tisch	Yiddish for “Groom’s Table”, during the Tisch, the families will sign the legal documents that define a Jewish wedding – the Tanaim, and the Ketubah.
Chuppah	The wedding canopy symbolizes the home that Spencer and Adina will build together. It is open to all sides, representing their openness to the community. The tallitot (prayer shawls) that form the “roof” belonged to Grandpa Ed Brasch and Grandpa Jerry Cohen. One of the kiddush cups used for the ceremony will be Grandpa Joe Segel’s. Also often used a synonym for the wedding ceremony itself.
Eid/Eidim	Witnesses, pronounced like “aid”. According to Jewish law, parts of the ceremony must take place in front of two observant, Jewish men. Often used with the specific thing they are witnessing, like Eid Ketubah, or Eid Kiddushin.
Erusin/ Kiddushin	This is the first part of a Jewish marriage: Spencer will give Adina a ring and recite the ancient words (“You are sanctified to me, with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel.”). This act makes Adina consecrated to Spencer and forbidden to all others. This is followed by Nissuin.
Framily	Friends that become family as you’ve lived and traveled with them.
Gush	Yeshivat Har Etzion, a place of torah study in Israel where Spencer spent studying post high school, located in Gush Etzion.
Hachnasat Kallah	During Hachnasat Kallah (also called Kabbalat Panim), the bride and her family greet guests from a raised dais, as befitting her status as like royalty on her wedding day. We believe that the bride is imbued with special holiness on this day, which is why many seek her blessing.
Hamotzi/Motzi	A short name for the blessing over bread. Eating bread is a necessary condition for a formal meal in Jewish law.
Ima	Pronounced “ee-ma”, Hebrew for Mother.
Kabbalat Panim	Literally “Receiving Faces”, this time is also referred to as Hachnasat Kallah
Ketubah	Jewish marriage contract. The oldest known Ketubah is well over 2,000 years old. The legal origin of the Ketubah is heavily disputed, whether it is of Biblical or Rabbinic origin. During the Tisch, the Ketubah, which lays out Spencer’s responsibilities to Adina, will be signed by Spencer and two esteemed witnesses, as the Bible states, “a case can be valid only on the testimony of two witnesses or more” (Devarim 19:15).
Kiddush	The prayer before wine said every week for Shabbat, and other holidays.
Kittel	A kittel is a white robe that is worn by Ashkenazi men at times of spiritual transition: at their wedding, from single to married; annually on Yom Kippur after marriage, when one is praying for one’s life; and when buried, when one is transitioning to the afterlife.
Kippah	The Hebrew term for the clothing item also called a yarmulke.
Magid Shiur	Lecturer in a talmudic school
Mesader Kiddushin	Literally “Betrothal Arranger” – This is the rabbi that officiates at the wedding.
Nissuin	The second section of the wedding ceremony, this involves reading the ketubah, drinking wine and singing the Sheva Brachot.
RIETS	The Rabbi Issac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University, this is the premier Modern Orthodox rabbinical school in the United States.
Rebbe	Jewish mentor and life advisor.
Rosh Yeshiva	Literally, “Head of Academy”, these are Deans/leading Instructors at a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts.
Sabra	The name for a prickly pear cactus native to Israel, it is a term for someone who is native to Israel, or its pre-state areas, it also is used to describe a common stereotype of Israelis – hard and prickly on the outside, and mushy on the inside.
Shabbat	The origin of the term Sabbath, it’s the Hebrew term for Saturday, the day of rest.
Shaliach	Literally “emissary”, usually used in reference to a Chabad emissary who serves as the rabbi of the area.
Sheva Brachot	Literally “Seven Blessings”, also know as birkat nissuin, “wedding Blessings”, these are said as part of the second section of the wedding ceremony. Many of the guests will join in, and it is customary to say amen after each one.
Shtick	A Yiddish word literally meaning a “thing,” it is broadly used as meaning a comedy routine, and specifically in a wedding, is used for the part of the reception dancing where guests entertain the Bride and Groom, as they preside as King and Queen. This obligation is discussed at length in the Talmud, in Ketobot 17a.
Shul	Yiddish for synagogue.
Tanaim	Originally, the T’naim “conditions” ceremony occurred months/years before the marriage. Today, it takes place on the same day. The Tanaim is a contract between the families to bring their children to the Chuppah, i.e. engagement, and as such, it requires witnesses – Eidim – and guarantors, to make sure that the principals carry out their responsibilities.
Tefillin	Often translated as “phylacteries,” these small boxes containing bible verses are bound using their attached leather straps to a Jewish man’s arm and head to literally fulfill the commandments to “bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead“.
Yichud	A period of seclusion immediately following the Chuppah, so that Spencer and Adina can spend their first few minutes as a married couple away from the hustle and bustle.
YU	Yeshiva University
z”l	Abbreviation for זיכרונה לברכה, זיכרונו לברכה “Zichrono/ah L’vracha“, May their memory be for a Blessing – the Jewish honorific for the blessed dead, it’s the Jewish equivalent of “May God rest (their) Soul”