Wedding tutorial

We had the pleasure of joining Adam's brother, Jonas, and his new wife, Nava, at their wedding outside of Jericho over the weekend. This was the most truly religious wedding I've attended. It was beautiful and authentically holy in every way. I am including a few photos here so you can see what an Orthodox wedding in Israel might look like.

Hope to see many of you at the second show scheduled for the Rosenbloom-Pate-Bonds World Wedding Tour 2007: Hydeaway Farm, Vermont!

The view, not bad, eh?

The banquet hall before we all arrived and spilled our wine!

Nava, as is Orthodox tradition, received all of the female guests before the official ceremony under the Chuppah. She made blessings and thanked everyone for coming. Her sisters are standing around her, in green.

While Nava was outside on her thrown, Jonas was inside with the men signing the Ketubah (the Jewish wedding contract) and presiding over important religious discourse. Adam serveed as Jonas' Shomer and was with him all day: starting at 3 am to eat before fasting, serving as the anti-coordinator to ensure that he and Nava did not see one another during the day, and doing his best to keep Jonas relaxed. Here Jonas is reading about the ritual and tradition of the Ketubah surrounded by male members of his and Nava's family.

The group of observant Jewish men who sang the family down the isle.

Adam walking his Grandmother to the Chuppah.

The proud parents, walking Jonas down the isle.

Jonas, Nava, and their families under the Chuppah. This makeshift tent represents the first house the couple creates together, and the coming together of their families.

Nava, her Mother, and Miriam, circling the groom seven times, as is tradition.

Nancy, Adam's sister, and the two of us. Smiling.

The next couple to be standing under the Chuppah on this wedding tour, see you there!