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Why the groom breaks a glass

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Rabbi Josh Zebberman avatar
Rabbi Josh Zebberman

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There's a Jewish tradition at a wedding that the bride and the groom under the chuppah and the the wedding canopy breaks a glass. This is an old tradition dating back to the Talmud. And there's different reasons for this tradition. The classic reason given is because we want to remember the destruction of Jerusalem and even in our joyous moments, there's other people who are still in pain and there's historical pain and we can't forget that. That's the classic reason. But there's another reason commentaries explain because this couple needs to go into the marriage with hope. Although this is their most joyous moment at this point in their lives, it should only get better and be more joyous. There may be times where it feels like the glass is broken. It feels like just things aren't working. And they have to realize that what they broke was a glass, not clay, not earthenware, not wood. Glass can be repaired. You just need heat, you need fire, you need passion, you need love. And with that heat, you can melt the glass together and you can become one. And the reason why you can become one again is because you already were one.