The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-03-21
ANCIENT HEBREW RITES.
STRANGE CEREMONIES AT A WEDDING OF
ORTHODOX JEWS AT MILWAUKEE,.

MILWAUKEE, March 10.-In an obscure
portion of Market street, in an unpreten-
tious frame building, with nothing to
distinguish 1t from the residences adjoln-
ing but small board sign bearing a few
Hebrew characters, is the Temple Ansh
Jacob, the worshiping place of the strictly
orthodox Jews Of Milwaukee. The con-
gregation is chiefly of Russian and Polish
Jews. Here at 4 o'clock this afternoon
a marriage was celebrated with the rites
and ceremonies that prevailed In the
Temple at Jerusalem 1000 years ago.
The contracting parties were Meyer Bank
a merchant of Cresco, Iowa, and Miss
Josie Rosenberg, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Rosenberg, of this city. 1t was the
first time that the ancient ceremony was
ever used in a marriage by the Jews of
Milwaukee, and the event was an lmpor-
tant one. When the writer arrived at
the temple-shortly before o'clock
the bride and groom with their attend
ants were there, seated in conspicuous
place by the side of the alter. On the
opposite side of the alter was the rabbi
with his book and sheets of music, and the
orchestra, consisting of harp, violin, and
f1agelot. In the center, before the alter,
the newspaper men were given seats. All
the men had their hats on, the women
alone being without head-gear. Soon
four of the congregation brought In
AMARooN CoLoRED AWNING,
known as the chupe, about five feet
square, supported by four rods seven feet
in height. The awning was spread In the
middle of the room; the music struch
up and the groom neatly attired, was lee
by lady and gentleman under the cover
ing. Rabbi Silverstone, il sonorouf
voice chanted to the orchestral music, {
! prayer or invocation. Then the bride
radiant in blue satin, lace, and orange
blossoms, was led out, preceded by hel
father and the mother of the groom, eacl
bearing a lighted candle. She walked
seven times around the groom, under the
awning, then took her place at his left
side. The music stopped for a few
minutes, while everything of value was
taken from the pockets of the groom
and everything of value, including jewel
ry, was taken from the hands and pockets
of the bride. This, as was explained tG
| the writer later, referred to the lack OF
valuables in property of any kind at the
marriage of our first parents, or, as one
of the attendants further explained ''You
know Adam and Eve bad nothing in theil
| pockets when they were married" The
| rabbi, after placing a ring on the finger
of each of the contracting parties, read
in Hebrew first, then in German, what is
known as the marriage contract. Speak.
ing for the groom, the rabbi read: "Be
thou my wife according to the laws OF
Moses and of Israel. I will be hus.
band faithful to you. l will honor and
esteem you. I will clothe and support
you, and also fulfill all the duties as a
Jewish husband should. I will have
NO SECRETS FROM YOU.
From early morning, according to the
holy law, 1 shall care for you, and thou
shall have everything / possess" Fol-
the bride be said: "As stipulated, [ shall
become your true wife. 1 promise to
love and be true to you, as every Jewish
woman should, according to the Jewish
laws" The rabbi then to the congrega.
| ton said: "On this account the bride
and groom have been united together be.
fore God and in the presence of the PEG.
| pie, according to the Jewish faith, and
| from this moment will be acknowledged
as husband and wife without falsehood
or deceivlng, in good or in bad days, TIL
death do them part" A glass of wine
was at this juncture handed to the groom
He look a sip and handed it to the bride
she also tasting it. One of the congre
cation then-a friend of the young
couple-came forward with another glass
of wine, land after chanting a prayer
holding the glass aloft, he handed it t.
each. He was followed by another, who
went through the same ceremony, while
the congregation chimed in, in a sort of &
broken chorus. After this the rabbi
again took his place before the coupls
and the ceremony of breaking the glass
was gone through with. A small wine
glass was dropped at the feet of The
bridal pair, and as the groom crushed the
| largest pieces under his foot the congre
cation, crowding around, shouted "Ma:
| Eltew" Congratulations, and the mar
rage ceremony was complete. The sig
| nlticance OF
| THE GLASS-BREAKING
has been explained in different ways. bu
| the explanation most acceptable was tina
gwen by an attendant of the groom, VIII,
said it was TO call to the mind one of tn,
wise sayings of Solomon, that Joy O
pleasure was easily shattered, and tha
wisdom and righteousness only wer
lasting. From the temple the large com
pany repaired to Liedertafel Hall, wher,
after the wedding feast, dancing was in
dulged In until late hour. To th,
bridal pair the supper must have been
very interesting part of the proceeding
for, according to the Mosaierites, the,
had tasted since 6 o'clock Saturday even
ing. Despite what might appear to {