Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-09-23
Mlistellaueuns &eading.
THE JEWISH WEDDING.

9SyA1kkAA&*N*"~" SS*~"*"C'
THE JEWISH WEDDING.
The Jewish wedding ceremony which took
, place in Columbia, last Thursday afternoon
was an occurrence of kind which has been
extremely rare in this city Of late years; SO
rare, indeed, that many grown up people
among the Gentle portion Of our community
have never witnessed anything of the kind.
The ceremony took place at the residence OF
Mr.. Charles Elias, on Sumter street. The
bridegroom was Mr.. Michael Kalisky and the
bride was Miss jeanette Morris. When we
entered the room, they we're standing side by
side, under canopy resting upon four upright
posts, each of which was tastefully covered
with evergreens and rare flowers. The top OF
the canopy was of crimson silk velvet and
four gentlemen supported the structure. On
entering the house we had doffed our hat as
usual, but were courteously informed by the
hospitable gentleman who met US at the door,
that it was the custom to keep it on on such
occasions as this, and we acted accordingly.
The room was full Of ladies and gentlemen,
the latter with their hats on, it being the ira
ditional custom of the Hebrews to remain
covered when addressing the Deity. The off,
ciating minister, Rev. Henry Steele, had al
ready gone through with a portion of the Ger.
emony, in the original Hebrew language; he,
however, translated it into English also. The
part we witnessed was very solemn and impo-
sing. The bride was surrendered by Mrs.
Elias and Mrs. H. A. Samuels, and bride
groom by Mr.. M. Morris and Mr.. H. H. Sam
uels. The form of the question and answer
is as follows: "a. B., son Of -, do you, at
this moment, in the presence Of these witness
es, of your own free will, fully declare that
you will take the woman you hold by your
hand as your lawful wife, to wed her accord
ing to the law and rule of your faith? If so,
please answer, do"
Then turning to the bride he says: &c. D.,
daughter of -, do you, at this moment in
the presence of these respective witnesses, of
your own free will, fully declare that you will
take the man you hold by your hand as your
lawful husband, to become united to him &C.
cording, to the custom of your race? If so,
please answer, do"
Then the minister says: "In consideration
of these intentions, you shall be lawfully uni
ted." 81
After some reading from the Hebrew ritual,
the minister takes from his pocket ring and
hands it to the groom the latter places i!
upon the finger of the bride and repeats a
sentence in Hebrew, which being translated is
as follows: "Behold thou art welded to me
with this ring, according to the laws Of Moses
and Israel"
The minister then reads the marriage con-
tract in Hebrew, but on this occasion he also
translated it into English. 1t is legal doc.
ument in form prescribed by the Talmud
and sets forth the pledges Of honor, respect,
protection, &C., to each other; also the sum
of money provided as dover, and the obliga-
ton of payment by the groom and its accept
ance by the bride.
On little table just in front of the couple
and under the canopy, were two lighted can
dies, a wine glass and some other articles
which we do not remember At this stage of
the proceedings the minister filled the glass
with wine which he caused the bride aud
groom to sip and then slipped it himself. The
book was then transferred to two elderly rel
atives of the party who intoned sentences in
Hebrew which we were informed we're bles.
sing upon the newly married pair. The
minister then delivered an address to the
couple on the new relation they had assumed
to each other. 1t was exceedingly appropri.
ate, instructive, and we only regret that we
have not room to give it entire.
At the conclusion of these remarks he
placed an empty wineglass on the floor at
the feet of the groom, who crushed it into
innumerable fragments with his heel. Then
the minister, offering his hand, said: ave
now offer you our hearty congratulations.
May prosperity attend you through life; be
you never separated as these fragments be-
fore you can never again become united ;
may you never find cause to regret the i'm
portant step you have this evening so willing
ly taken, and may you never forget this holy
and eventful moment. The parties are now
at liberty to receive the wishes Of their rela-
tives and frieuds for their future welfare
Then followed kisses and hand shaking
and congratulations for few moments, after
which refreshments were served in the same
room. A few moments later the whole COM
pany went into another room and sat down to
dinner And such dinner as it was Pro-
fusion and variety are scarcely the words to
describe it. Every delicacy that can be OBJ
tained in this market was there except such
as were forbidden by the Jewish law. The
meats had all been killed according to their
rites, which will not permit anything defective
or unclean to come on the tables of the Isreal.
ite. And the dinner was served with the solicit.
Gus and delicate hospitality which character.
ICES the children of Abraham in their own
homes.
We had almost forgotten to mention an
interesting fact connected with the canopy
used on this occasion. 1t was first made and
used about the year 1888, and since then it
has done service for not less than fifty cou-
ples.- Columbia Register.
BR1DEsMA1Ds.-Next to being bride her
self every young lady likes to be brides.
maid. Wedlock is thought by large pro.
portion of the blooming sex to be contagious
and, much to the credit of their courage, fair
spinsters are not at all afraid of catching it.
porban. tho theorv that the affnctiOn ia rom.