The photographs on these pages show the key elements of a Jewish wedding with short explanations accompanying them. The three essential elements of a wedding are the signing of the ketubah, the giving of the ring(s) and the yichud (seclusion). Under the chuppah, two ceremonies take place: Erusin (betrothal), also known as Kiddushin (sanctification), and…
A bride’s wedding day is a major fashion opportunity. But before she can pick her gown, she needs first to identify her bridal style. Some brides want to look haute chic with a couture silhouette and bold details, while others prefer to be understated in a clean, sleek style. Deciding to look romantic, sexy, classic…
The concept of mating for life comes from the earliest of couples, Adam and Eve. Since Eve was made from part of Adam, and made especially for him, the intention was for her to be his mate for life, thus becoming the first “married” couple. There were other biblical couples that shared the rites of…
BRIDAL AND FORMALWEAR Laurie’s Bridal and Formal 14891 N Northsight Blvd. #130, Scottsdale 480-699-3973 • lauriesbridal.com We are a family-owned and operated bridal boutique, featuring hand-picked bridal gowns that offer limited distribution or are exclusive to Laurie’s Bridal. We also offer a large variety of bridal, bridesmaids, mother of the wedding, prom and bar/bat mitzvah…
Laura Sosnowitz had always wanted to adopt a child to be a little brother or sister to her son Blake, but knew that international adoption was a lengthy process. She never really thought it would become a reality, until she met Kathi and Craig Juntunen at a charity event. The Juntunens made their first trip…
The Arizona Diamondbacks invite the Jewish community out for a day of baseball at Chase Field in Phoenix on Aug. 28. Jewish Community Day starts off with a pre-game parade around the outfield. To join the parade, meet at the top of Section 111 at 11:50 am, where a representative from the Diamondbacks will explain…
Despite reading books and wedding blogs, there were a few things I wish someone had told me before my big day: 1. Give Your Phone Away – I should have coordinated with someone to take my phone away from me the moment I woke up on the day of my wedding. You would be surprised…
A mikvah is a ritual bath satisfying very specific requirements that incorporate “living water” (running or moving water from a God-given source such as rain, snow, ice or a spring). Immersion in a mikvah is performed for ritual purification and a change in status, including before a wedding ceremony. The purpose of immersion is not…
Very few American Jews marry before they finish college. And even high school sweethearts are usually prepared to wait – or are convinced by their parents to do so – until they turn 21. In Israel, with university coming after a lengthy post-high school period (including army service, travel, making up for screw-ups in high…
