I think Orthodox just means following
the Torah what it says every experience
that I go through has a piece of my
religion in it it always connects back
to my religion I just live my life
surrounded by God the Torah the Jewish
Bible begins with the letter Bet and
ends with the letter l'm ed together
they spell the heart this is the wedding
story of Hadassah and Zev a young Jewish
Orthodox couple from Baltimore in two
days they will be married
Judaism is practiced by nearly fourteen
point four million people more than
two-thirds of adult Orthodox Jews are
married compared to about half of other
Jewish adults Orthodox Judaism requires
adherence to the ancient laws of the
Torah in every aspect of life tradition
is important yes is the answer it's a
concept that may seem old-fashioned to
the secular world but here it's a way of
life as fresh as homemade challah a
special Jewish bread
when you do this sugar as you pour it
and just have a little intention what do
you think so much this is the night I'm
a person that really likes tradition I
think it gives a lot of clarity and it
gives you connection I think it's very
special to do what people did before you
and then I was just lied to you it's
amazing in two days
Hadassah is marrying a man she's never
held hands with let alone kissed we
started dating this past June
so don't freak out guys I'm a religious
Jew so I don't really like talk to guys
until I'm ready to date okay Zev a big
day two more days all right as a big day
quickly approaches Zev makes final
preparations
how often do women get their hair cut
every four to six weeks yeah men and
women don't really talk too much unless
they're dating
we only date when we're ready to get
married I knew from the first date that
I wanted to marry her it was definitely
love at first sight at least for me you
know he's pretty cute for most Jewish
couples they don't see each other the
week before the wedding you write notes
you send gifts but you don't talk for
Zev and Hadassah absence makes the heart
grow fonder and serves as a final
opportunity to work on themselves as
individuals
[Music]
the tallit is a special prayer shawl
worn by married men during morning
prayer the day before the wedding
Zeb's father shows him how to tie it for
the first time bharata hashem elokenu
mela alum a share Kadosh anonymous
Cassavetes even he taught a flock
tsatsis dasa is so pure in in her love
for Hashem and a love for God I see that
and I and I want to be more I want to I
want to do better I want to be a better
Jew she's so great I hope there's a lot
of giggling in the marriage because
that's an important thing
according to the Jewish Orthodox faith a
couple's wedding day is one of the
holiest days of their lives and they are
considered to be closer to God
today is Hadassah's own personal yom
kippur or day of atonement and she is
freed of all transgressions and
wrongdoings something the people in her
community are here to honor
because of her divine status on this day
she bestows and receives blessings from
loved ones it's here that she'll receive
Zev and see him for the first time in
seven days but first there are a few
things he must agree to
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
it says in the contract I will take care
of her I will support her all sorts of
lovely things but it does not say I will
do the dishes oh okay
under Jewish law the ketubah solidifies
the promises sev is making to his future
wife blade to witness by more
experienced generations the bride and
groom's mother's break a plate to make
it legal
[Music]
Zev is ready to meet his bride at the
potekhin a traditional veiling ceremony
Zev veils Hadassah as a sign of respect
to her modesty and privacy during this
holy time he offers her a blessing and
his heart
[Music]
the wedding ceremony begins under the
chuppah a marriage canopy which
symbolizes the home they will grow
together the bride then circles the
groom seven times to break down any
walls or barriers between them
I think my perspective my marriage
definitely has to do with my faith the
way we see people getting married is
that their spouse is the other half of
their soul
[Music]
I shared sip of wine and a ring join
them together a broken glass seals the
deal when I get to hold my wife's hand
for the first time I will be jumping for
joy
surrounded by their friends family and
God Hadassah and Zev are married at last
and finally they can have some alone
time
behind closed doors Hadassah and Zev
spend their first 15 minutes alone in
the hood or seclusion room an act that
symbolizes their newly married State
[Music]
[Applause]
although men and women dance separately
to avoid touching the opposite gender
it's a requirement for all to bring joy
to the bride and groom a commandment the
guests take very seriously
after today Hadassah and Zev will have a
special place in the community what lies
ahead is a series of firsts and they
will rely on their faith to guide them
today's world is very topsy-turvy and
morals are a little skewed and Jewish
married life we gain from the wisdom of
the past and it doesn't mean that we're
not innovative but it means that within
the bounds of the past we can move
towards the future
[Music]