Marriage and Death Marriage Kiddushin The process of marriage occurs in two distinct stages

The first 200 words of this essay...

Marriage and Death

Marriage

Kiddushin

* The process of marriage occurs in two distinct stages: kiddushin (commonly translated as betrothal) and nisuin (full-fledged marriage).

* Kiddushin occurs when the woman accepts the money, contract or sexual relations offered by the prospective husband.

* The ritual of kiddushin sets aside the woman to be the wife of a particular man and no other.

* Once kiddushin is complete, the woman is legally the wife of the man. The relationship created by kiddushin can only be dissolved by death or divorce. However, the spouses do not live together at the time of the kiddushin, and the mutual obligations created by the marital relationship do not take effect until the nisuin is complete.

* The nisuin (from a word meaning "elevation") completes the process of marriage. The husband brings the wife into his home and they begin their married life together.

* In the past, the kiddushin and nisuin would routinely occur as much as a year apart. Today, the two ceremonies are normally performed together.

Ceremony

* It is customary for the bride and groom not to see each other for a