- Badeken
"Badeken", "Bedeken", "Badekenish", or "Bedekung" ( _yi. באַדעקן "badekn", lit. covering), is the ceremony where the groom veils the bride in an Orthodox
Jewish wedding .Just prior the actual wedding ceremony, which takes place under the
Chuppah , the bridegroom, accompanied by his parents, the Rabbi, and other dignitaries, and amidst joyous singing of his friends, covers the bride's face with a veil. The bride wears this veil until the conclusion of the chuppah ceremony. [Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 147:3]Sources
The custom of a virgin bride wearing a veil is mentioned in the Talmud. [Ketubot 17b, Rashi ad loc]
The veiling itself is a symbol of modesty, based upon the verse in connection with Rebecca's meeting Isaac, " [T] hen she took her veil and covered herself." [Genesis, 24:65]
The practice of the groom uncovering the veil is based upon the story of where Jacob married Leah because her face was veiled, when he had wanted to married Rachel. [ibid., 29:20-25]
Some opinions maintain that the Badeken ceremony is the meaning of the term Chuppah (Hebrew for "covering") mentioned in the Talmud and thus has legal ramifications. [ [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/477333/jewish/Badeken-Veiling.htm Badeken -- Veiling] on Chabad.org]
External links
* [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/477333/jewish/Badeken-Veiling.htm Badeken Guide]
References
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