Jewish Wedding Entertainment, Jewish Wedding Bands Melbourne

Jewish Wedding Entertainment

Introduction

At the Khosns Tish the main order of business is the signing of the Ketubah, the marriage contract by the witnesses after which the groom would traditionally attempt to deliver a learned speech, a droshe on Torah or Talmud. However, to avoid embarrassment, because not every groom is equally learned, the speech is always interrupted after a few words by the groom's friends who sing celebratory songs and get up to dance.

On the groom's third attempt to begin the speech, the dancing overflows the room, and the groom is conducted to where the bride is seated for the badekn, the veiling.

Meanwhile, at the kale bazetsn, the seating of the bride, friends come and greet the bride. This is a time for quiet background music. This is also the time at which the badkhan, or wedding jester, would sing humorous verses warning the bride that her days of freedom are over, and teasing her about the faults of her husband to be.

After the groom's party arrives and the groom puts the veil over the brides face, music leads the guests to the khupe with a lively tune. Food is often served at the khosns tish and at the bazetsn.

Under the Khupe - The Ceremony

Music for the ceremony usually consists of processionals and lively music at the very end. Occasionally couples also ask us to play particular musical selections or songs within the body of the ceremony.

There are two types of music that are usual choices for the processionals: an old style Eastern European khupe march, and modern Israeli settings of portions of the Song of Songs. In a traditional wedding, the bride circles the groom seven times under the khupe. The music for this is in a slow rhythm known as a Roumanian hora.

One old tradition is for the mothers of the bride and groom to guide the bride as she circles the groom, sometimes each holding a candle. In any case, the bride's mother should never be asked to hold the bride's train, as that puts her in a servant role, rather than a position of honor. In egalitarian weddings, the bride and groom may take turns circling each other.

The parts of a traditional khupe ceremony are the blessing over a cup of wine, the exchange of rings or other tokens, the recitation of the traditional consecration, reading of the ketuba by the rabbi or officiant, the rabbi's talk, and the seven blessings. The breaking of a glass marks the end of the ceremony at which time the music should be lively congratulatory music.

The bride and groom go off to yikhud, to be alone with each other for a while. Guests may spontaneously begin dancing. Music is played until the guests leave the area for where the party takes place, or leads the guests to the party area.

Seudas mitzve - The Party

There is usually background music while the party begins and hors d'ouevres are served. When the khosn and kale arrive from yikhud, lively dance music is in order. Dancing may continue at this time or the meal may begin right away, depending on the caterer's schedule. Usually the main body of wedding dances occurs after the main course is served. If dinner is served in many courses, dancing can happen in shorter segments between courses.

If you choose to have some Yiddish songs for entertainment, the best time is usually while people are finishing either their main course or dessert, before they are ready to get up and dance again.

Jewish Wedding Dances

According to tradition, it is a mitzve, a commandment, to entertain the bride and groom by dancing at their wedding. Below is a description of traditional mitzve dances:

The couple is lifted on chairs. It helps to plan in advance for people to do this who have been coached to know how: taller people in the front so the chair leans back, and couple can have hands free and not have to hold on. The couple hold opposite ends of a tikhl, or kerchief and "dance" with each other.

The assembled company take turns in the center of the circle, dancing to entertain the couple who are seated on chairs. Honored guests such as parents can be called up first while the music is slower, and then others on a list, or whom you call up yourself with our wireless microphone.

The father of the bride dances with his daughter holding tikhl, and hands his end of tikhl to the groom and then on to others. Make your own variations, such as groom dancing with his mother. Dancers demonstrate in mime the things that the couple should know about in their new life together.

The Broiges Tants, or dance of anger and reconciliation, is traditionally performed by the mothers of the bride and groom. The friends and families on the bride's side and the groom's side start separately and dance through each other's lines until the two communities are "woven" into one.

Those to be honored (traditionally parents of the youngest child to be married off, but choose whom you wish) are seated in the center of the circle. Guests dance around them, as sections of the circle take turns dancing to the center to kiss the honored people. It is traditional for the guests to bring handmade or hand- painted masks, streamers, banners, costumes, props or any colorful aids to fulfillment of the mitzve , that one should dance to entertain the bride and groom at their wedding.

In the old country, a badkhan would sing comical verses made up to amuse and satirize the guests, and to give the bride one last chance to think about her doubts about getting involved in marriage, particularly this one.