Jewish Wedding Ceremony - Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings) sung by Yoav Oved with Shir
The Sheva Brachot – The Seven Blessings are wedding blessings for the bride and groom recited/sung during the Chuppah (the Jewish wedding ceremony) and are also after Benching (Birkat Hamazon – Grace after meals) at the wedding feast and following festive meals during the next seven days. They are also known as birkot nissuin – the wedding blessings, The blessings are usually sung by the Rabbi or Cantor, although it is also popular for chosen guests to be given the honour of reciting a blessing each.
The last blessing, known as the brachah ach’rita, is considered the most prestigious, and is normally reserved for a very special individual.
After the conclusion of the seventh blessing, the bride and groom are given a sip from the wine in the cup. A glass is then wrapped well (usually in a large cloth napkin), and placed beneath the right foot of the groom. The groom stomps on and shatters the glass, customarily to the crowd’s jubilant shouts of “Mazal Tov!”. At that point joyful music erupts, lots of kissing and hugging ensue, and this often leads to dancing.
The Sheva Brachot:
1. Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
2. Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has created all things for His glory.
3.Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, Creator of man.
4.Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who created man in His image, in the image [of His] likeness [He fashioned] his form, and prepared for him from his own self an everlasting edifice. Blessed are You L-rd, Creator of man.
5. May the barren one [Jerusalem] rejoice and be happy at the ingathering of her children to her midst in joy. Blessed are You L-rd, who gladdens Zion with her children.
6.Grant abundant joy to these loving friends, as You bestowed gladness upon Your created being in the Garden of Eden of old. Blessed are You L-rd, who gladdens the groom and bride.
7. Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who created joy and happiness, groom and bride, gladness, jubilation, cheer and delight, love, friendship, harmony and fellowship. L-rd our G‑d, let there speedily be heard in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the sound of joy and the sound of happiness, the sound of a groom and the sound of a bride, the sound of exultation of grooms from under their chupah, and youths from their joyous banquets. Blessed are You L-rd, who gladdens the groom with the bride.