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Lesson 9 of 10·Why Do Jews Do That?

The Evolution of the Chuppah: "The Wedding"

Rabbi Soloveichik explores the history of two central wedding rituals—the chuppah and the breaking of the glass—through the paintings of Moritz Daniel Oppenheim. He traces how the chuppah evolved from a simple tallit to a canopy. He then unpacks the ceremonial breaking of the glass, showing how it affirms the power of a Jewish wedding to rebuild and recreate—even from great disasters like the destruction of the Second Temple.

Taught By

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik
Meir Soloveichik is the rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel and the director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. His website, containing all of his media appearances, podcasts, and writing, can be found at meirsoloveichik.com.