Objects

Photography of the bride, groom and guests during their wedding in Petach Tikva, Israel. At the centre of the photograph is the bride, who has a white cloth thrown over her head. Putting the cloth on the bride's head belongs to badeken (Yiddish: badeken di kale), one of the wedding rituals that means covering the bride by the groom. The man is led to his future wife by his father and future father-in-law (or parents). According to Hasidic custom, the fabric should be thickly woven - as opaque as possible. Additionally, it should not have silver or gold threads, as one does not go under the chuppah wearing jewelery. The origins of this rite are traced back to Jacob: he married Leah instead of his chosen one, Rachel, because she was covered with a veil. The shawl with which a woman is covered is also understood to be an additional type of chuppah. Another reason indicated for its use is that it is a symbolic way of preserving the bride's face for her husband alone.

MBK, AW