The weekly standard., 1870-07-06
A Hebrew Wedding-Scene in Syna-
sOgue-InterruptiOn of a Marriage Ger
pmOny.


gogue-Interruption of Marriage Ger
emOny.
Yesterday afternoon, says the Washington
Star of last evening, the synagogue on Sth
street, between Ii and I, was filled to over
flowing by Isrealites and Christians to wit
ness the marriage ceremony of Mr.. Solomon
Caro-, OF New York, to Elizabeth Abrahams,
of this city.
The reader, Mr.. jacobson, commenced the
service by delivering the nuptial address or
sermon in English, in which he spoke of the
duties of husband and wife to each otbtr
and to the world. During its delivery the
father of the groom, Rabbi Caro-, who was
to have taken part in the ceremony, had
been seated to the left of the desk. At its
close he was beckoned to by Mr. jacobson,
but instead of continuing the ceremony, he
took a position in front OF the young couple
and addressed them in Hebrew, saying that
it was against his conviction to continue the
service in the reformed style; that he was
orthodox. and could not allow the ceremo-
ny to proceed. The bridal party remained
in their places few minutes and then the
the bride telling the groom that they had
better return to her fathers, they walked
down the aisle, and, taking the carriages,
Immediately proceeded to Mr.. hbraham's
residence.
These proceedings caused considerable
surmise on the part Of those present who
did not understand the Hebrew tongue, but
it was soon learned that the Rabbi objected
to the ceremony because of the absence of
the canopy, the use of which the strictly or
thodoX Israelites (of which he is one) hold
to be an essential part Of their marriage ccr-
mony. This canopy, which is made of blue
silk, and supported by four pest -held hy
young men Of the congregation, is supposed
to represent the blue arch of heaven. 1t is
not used by the Reformed Hebrews, and it is
represented on behalf of the congregation
here that they simply granted the
youthful couple (who are neither of
them members of this branch of the church,
the use OF the synagogue without any stipu-
lation being made as to the use of tile cano-
by. That any misunderstanding or intel
ruption should have occurred is deeply re-
GREETED by them, but they could not toresee
that granting the use of the synagogue sim
would lead to such result as it did in this
case.
The audience left the synagogue, most of
them disappointed, but number who had
proceeded thither. Here the bridal party
had arrived, and after evening prayers
| the father of the bride signed the marriage
| contract, and the ceremony was performed
with all the forms and symbols used by thc
orthodox Israelites. A canopy was raised
in the centre of the room, the polls at the
corners being held by the bystanders and
the groom with the groomsmen and brides
maids having taken their positions under it
the bride was called in, and the Rabbi. after
the preliminary prayer, read the marriage
contract. and the ring having been handed.
TO him by the groom he placed it on the
finger of the bride, and the pair partook al
nuptial wine Rabbi Illowy read the seven
benedictions, and the wine having been
again presented was drank by the couple.
In conclusion the glass was broken by DR..
| Illowy on the hearth.