~ Jewish Interfaith Ceremony ~

by Rev. Richard Lewis

OPENING PRAYER:

Shamah yisrael adonai elohenu adonai echad ... Baruch sheim kavod

mahlchootov lei’olam va’ed

Here O Israel the lord our G-d, the lord is one ... Blessed be his glorious

name forever.

We give thanks to the Beloved One, the Great Mystery of Life as it weaves

the spirit of love throughout every heart, body and mind within this

gathering. May the blending of our hearts prepare us to remember the truth

of Oneness as we bear witness to the sacred ceremony of marriage. May

the radiance of joy on this special day, overflow with peace and harmony

throughout the rest of _________ & _________ life together as husband &

wife. And may this peace & harmony continue to expand, bringing joy to

their families and friends and to all others who enter their home and circle

of life. …

THE GREETING:

_________ and _________, we are gathered together this day to

celebrate, support and share in the joy of your union together as husband

and wife. A wedding is a celebration of the magic of love and vision of

oneness. A celebration of a man and a woman as they proclaim the depths

of their love for one another to the world and undergo the sanctifying of their

partnership in the presence of the Divine.

This ceremony is an invitation to encounter the extraordinary in the midst of

ordinary life. As our consciousness is elevated from the mundane to the

sacred, we are transported into an intimate communion with the spirit of

Love … “the Spirit of Aloha”.

A marriage union is one of the most precious occasions in life when we are

presented with a profound opportunity to enter the timeless dimension of

Love as it descends into the world of time. It emphasizes and reminds us

that our lives have meaning and purpose beyond the day to day affairs of

worldly life and that Love is the strongest bond, the greatest joy and the

sweetest nourishment we can ever experience

READING: (Optional)

In traditional Jewish literature ‘marriage’ is actually called kiddushin, which

translates as "sanctification" or "dedication." "Sanctification," indicates that

what is happening is not just a social arrangement or contractual

agreement, but a spiritual bonding and the fulfillment of a mitzvah, a Divine

precept. "Dedication," indicates that the couple now have an exclusive

relationship, that involves total dedication of the bride and groom to each

other, to the extent of them becoming, as it is stated in the Kabbalah, "one

soul in two bodies."

THE EXCHANGE OF LEIS: (Optional)

In Hawaii we exchange leis as a symbol of embracing one another in love.

The leis was originally created as a means of bringing healing herbs and

flowers from the mountains to villages on the sea. Over the passage of time

this ring of beautiful flowers has come to symbolize affection and respect

between two people. In Hawaiian tradition, the head and shoulders of an

individual are considered to be sacred. Therefore, the placing of a lei is an

expression of great honor toward the one to whom the lei is given. You may

now present your leis. It is also traditional to include a kiss upon both

cheeks.

THE DECLARATION (Vows):

Minister: Before we come to the exchange of vows, I will ask each of you

your intent.

Groom: _________, will you unconditionally accept this woman to be your

wife? Will you devote your life to loving her, nourishing her and honoring her

uniqueness? Will you support her in health & nurture her in times of

sickness for as long as you both shall live?

Bride: __________, will you unconditionally accept this man to be your

husband? Will you devote your life to loving him, nourishing him and

honoring his uniqueness? Will you support her in health & nurture him in

times of sickness for as long as you both shall live?

Minister: __________, please repeat after me the following words …

Groom: Today, _________, I join my life to yours as your beloved life

partner, most intimate friend and confidant. I pledge to be true to you, to

respect you, and to grow with you through the years to come. With you I will

walk the path of love and devotion forevermore!

Minister: __________, please repeat after me the following words …

Bride: Today, _________, I join my life to yours as your beloved life partner,

most intimate friend and confidant. I pledge to be true to you, to respect

you, and to grow with you through the years to come. With you I will walk the

path of love and devotion forevermore!

THE BLESSING OF RINGS:

As G-d is a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is

nowhere, so let the seamless circle of these rings become a symbol of the

timeless dimension of Unconditional Love. May the beauty and perfection

of these rings remind you of the beauty of your togetherness and the

perfection of this union you are sanctifying in this perfect moment. May the

presence of these rings continue to remind you of the eternal love and

devotion you are to share with one another from this moment onwards.

THE EXCHANGE OF RINGS:

Minister: _________, please place this ring on _________’s finger &

repeat after me:

Groom: "With this ring,… I thee wed ... I pledge my love,… my loyalty,… and

my life to you. May this ring remind you of our oneness, now and always."

Minister: _________, please place this ring on _________’s finger &

repeat after me:

Bride: "With this ring,… I thee wed ... I pledge my love,… my loyalty,… and

my life to you. May this ring remind you of our oneness, now and always."

BENEDICTION:

May G-d bless you and keep you.

May G-d's countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May G-d look upon you with favor and grant you peace.

Yeshahaya Berekhya Shemaya Yeshahaya - Blessed is he who comes in

the name of the lord.

Serve God with joy, come into G-d's presence with song.

Most glorious and blessed One, we give thanks for granting your blessings

to the bride and groom on this very special day and for the rest of their

lives. Amen.

BREAKING OF THE GLASS:

We conclude this ceremony with the breaking of the glass. It is a joyous

ceremony. There are many different explanations for the breaking of the

glass. Today, the fragility of the glass suggests the frailty of human

relationships. The glass is broken to protect this marriage with the implied

prayer...

May your bond of love be as difficult to break as it would be to put together

the pieces of this glass.

After (the groom, or the bride and groom) breaks the glass, I invite

everyone to shout the Hebrew words "Mazel Tov," which means "Good

Luck" and "Congratulations."

THE PRONOUNCEMENT:

_________ & _________ you have been guided by the Lord to discover in

one another an oasis of love. You have exchanged precious rings,

proclaimed vows of love, devotion and faithfulness and now have finally

entered into the sacred covenant of marriage.

By the authority vested in me in the state of Hawaii, it gives me great Joy to

pronounce you husband and wife.

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