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The
Bedeking Ceremony: The Veiling of the Bride
A Conservative
Perspective by Rivka
C. Berman
After the ketubah is signed, the groom may choose to lower the veil over
his bride’s face. This recalls the biblical nuptial episode. Jacob’s
father-in-law Laban put his daughter, Leah, in place of Jacob’s chosen bride,
Rachel. The deception was possible because of the heavy veil brides wore. When
the groom personally veils the bride, it’s a kind of insurance policy against
bridal surprises.
As a groom lowers the veil over his bride’s face, he affects a lovely symbolism.
Just as his bride's face is enveloped by the veil, so will love envelope the
couple. This covering is known as the bedeking (or bedecken or
bedekung). In many Conservative weddings, this is a private ceremony
performed where the ketubah is signed.
Witnesses to the bedeking chant the words said to Rebecca as she left her
father’s home to marry Isaac. “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands
and tens of thousands” (Genesis 24:60)
Parents, parents-in-law, and others approach the bride and bless her with
personal words and wishes or the traditional blessing: “May the L-rd make you as
Sara, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.”
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