Sheva Brachot: The Seven Wedding Blessings Explained

Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings) are the seven blessings recited during a Jewish wedding ceremony under the chuppah, and again at festive meals during the week following the wedding. These ancient blessings, found in the Talmud, celebrate the creation of humanity, the joy of the couple, and the hope for Jerusalem's restoration. They transform the wedding into a sacred covenant before God and community.

1) Blessing over wine (hagafen). 2) Praise for God who created everything for His glory. 3) Praise for the Creator of humanity. 4) Praise for creating humans in God's image with the ability to perpetuate. 5) May Zion rejoice as her children return (a prayer for Jerusalem). 6) Gladden the couple as God gladdened Adam and Eve in Eden. 7) Praise for God who created joy and gladness, groom and bride, and all forms of celebration - concluding with 'Who gladdens the groom with the bride.'

During the wedding ceremony, the Sheva Brachot are recited after the ring ceremony and the reading of the ketubah (marriage contract). They are traditionally chanted over a cup of wine by the officiating rabbi or divided among honored guests. After the blessings, the couple drinks from the wine. This is followed by the breaking of the glass and the joyous celebration.

For seven days after the wedding, festive meals are held in honor of the couple, and Sheva Brachot are recited after Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals). To recite the full Sheva Brachot at these meals, there must be a minyan (ten men) and at least one 'panim chadashot' (new face) - someone who wasn't at the wedding or a previous Sheva Brachot meal during that week. This ensures continuous celebration with fresh participants.

A central theme of Sheva Brachot is joy - specifically, the mitzvah to gladden the bride and groom. The blessings invoke the original joy of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, asking that the couple experience similar happiness. Guests are encouraged to celebrate, sing, dance, and bring joy to the new couple. This week of celebration helps launch the marriage with community support and happiness.

Several of the Sheva Brachot reference Jerusalem and Zion, connecting personal joy to national hope. Even at the height of celebration, we remember Jerusalem and pray for its rebuilding. The blessings envision 'the sound of joy and gladness, the voice of groom and bride' once again being heard in the streets of Jerusalem. This links every Jewish wedding to the collective destiny of the Jewish people.