Breaking The Jewish Code Perry Stone

expected from his future wife and what she could expect from him as a husband. Once the contract, called a ketubah , was agreed upon, the couple drank from a glass of wine as a token of their covenant agreement. The father of the groom then provided a special price for the woman. It might have been camels, goats, or a piece of property. After these procedures were completed, the groom returned to his father’s house, and the woman remained at her parents’ home. From that moment forward the couple did not date or visit one another. Two individuals, called the friend of the bride and the friend of the bridegroom, relayed messages between the bride and groom. The woman remained faithful to her future husband, publicly wearing a veil covering her face, which indicated she was spoken for. The man worked at his father’s house preparing a special room for the couple for consummating their marriage. Upon completion of the room, the groom’s father permitted his son to take his bride. At times a group of men would be sent secretly to the bride’s house and would stand at her window and announce, “The bridegroom is coming. Make yourself ready.” The woman would prepare herself, and often several young virgins would be present with her during this exciting moment. She would be whisked from her house and brought to the groom’s prepared chamber. If the event occurred at night, torches on long poles were lit and led the way through the dark night to the waiting groom. Upon arrival, the waiting groom would bring his new bride into the special room called a chuppah . There, the couple would consummate their marriage.