|
Two pains of stained glass highlight a central Mogen David. The stained glass shows day and night, sun and moon representing the fluidity of life, two different symbols that require both to achieve fulfillment. There are six Mogen Davids in the stained glass. Witth the dominant star in the middle, this makes seven. Seven is the mystical number of the creation of the universe. Jewish mysticism adds incredible spiritual interpretations such as equating marriage to the creation of a new universe. Hidden in the stained glass are a serpent doctors symbol and a scale of justice; the groom is a lawyer and the bride a doctor. The border of the star is filled with additional symbolism. At the top is a Caribbean island-the honeymoon. Below it shows an ocean full of fish. The groom is a notorious fish collector. The bride and groom?s names brandish the sides of the star. And a bright jerusalem decorates the bottom of the star. The background is bedecked withy the phrase "Haray aht m?kudeshet li b?taba?at zu k?dat Moshe v?Yisrael. By this ring you are consecrated to me in accordance with the traditions of Moshe and Israel.? This formula is called the haray aht, contains thirty-two letters. In Hebrew; the number thirty-two is written with the letters lamed and vet, which spell the word that means ?heart? ? lev. The custom of placing the ring on the bride?s right index finger is said to be nearly a thousand years old. It stem?s from an ancient belief that the index finger was directly connected by a special artery to the heart, so their hearts are joined. There are a number of explanations for the halakhic preference that the ring be placed on the index finger. Some suggest that this was where rings were once worn; others believe the custom simply made it easier to show witnesses that the bride had received the ring. By taking the ring on here most active finger the bride also demostrates that she accepts it not as a gift but as a binding transaction.
|
