KIDDUSHIN
by Paul E. Jamison
Sammy was sitting behind his desk, attempting to
make some headway on his paperwork. His desk was always piled high with
letters, books and e-mail printouts, but lately it seemed to have gotten worse.
It wasn't surprising, really, considering that the Big Event he thought of it
in just that way, capitalized and everything was a little more than a week
away. It was a relief when someone knocked on the office door. He lay down a
letter and said, "Come in?"
His relief was enhanced by joy when a pretty
jill stuck her head in his office and smiled. "Hello, are we interrupting
anything?"
Sammy smiled at Clarissa. "Oh, believe me,
I'll take any interruption I can get. Hi!"
Hanging from Clarissa's chest was a carrier, and
strapped in was a little bundle of pure white fur and bright red eyes. The
little kit's face lit up when he saw Sammy and he energetically waved his chubby
arms and legs in the air. Little Levi cheerfully squealed and loudly declared
"Goo-gleh!"
Sammy grinned. "And there's my buddy! Hi,
there, big guy!" He stood up and continued, "And how are you fine
folks today?"
Clarissa began undoing the straps on her
carrier, helped to no end by her squirmy little son. "Oh, we're doing
fine. We thought we'd come by today; after tomorrow, you and I won't be able to
see each other for a week." She bent down and kissed Little Levi.
"And we have important news we said our first word today!"
Sammy walked around his desk. "That's good!
What was it?"
"'Goo-gleh.'"
Little Levi confirmed this.
"Goo-gleh!!"
"I see. A perfectly fine word. It sounds
almost Yiddish." He took the little kit from his mama. "I wonder what
it means."
Clarissa started divesting herself of the
carrier. She rolled her eyes. "Oh, well, if you're going to insist on meaning, all bets are off!" She set
the carrier down on a more-or-less flat portion of the detritus on the desk.
"Why do words have to mean
something? If we start using that as a benchmark, half the humans on the face
of the earth wouldn't qualify."
"Good point." Sammy held Little Levi
up over his head and began to spin briskly around. The baby squealed with glee.
Clarissa shook her head. "I'm going to tell
you right now that that's a good way to get him to throw up." She added
thoughtfully. "Or down. You might very well find out what he had for breakfast."
"I'll take that risk." Sammy danced
around until he backed up against his chair and abruptly sat down.
"Whoop!" He clutched the baby tight. "Boy, that could have
turned out bad! You and I were lucky, fella!"
Clarissa didn't look concerned. "You did
that on purpose."
"I have no idea what you're talking
about." Sammy looked down at the little kit in his lap, who looked back up
at him with adoring eyes. Sammy said, "You know, one of these days, I'll have
to get out of the habit of calling you 'Little Levi'. It looks like you're
growing like a weed. It won't be long before the 'Little' part won't fit
anymore. And it'll get embarrassing, too. A young lad won't like being called
'Little'."
The kit thoughfully replied,
"Goo-gleh."
Clarissa sat down. "Oh, that won't be
awhile yet. 'Little Levi' will do for now."
"Well, it's never too early to worry about
these things." Sammy gently stroked the soft white fur. It seemed the most
natural thing in the world to hold this child. He said, gently, "I'm sure
that his father would be proud of him he's probably watching us even as we
speak."
Clarissa nodded. "I feel that he is."
She sighed. "I miss Albert so much. Is it wrong to say that even
now?"
Rabbis were used to counseling people on
difficult issues of loss and letting go, but this was personal, and he wasn't
quite sure himself. But he said, "No, I don't think so. I believe that he
wouldn't want you to stop your life for his sake. If he was the good husband
you say he was, he'd want you to move on and love again for his sake."
Sammy held a tiny little paw in his own. "I just hope that Albert would
approve of your new husband."
"Oh, I know he would. He always was a good
judge of character." A twinkle came to her eye. "I only choose the
best for husbands."
This could have been a awkward moment, but in
one of those improbable coincidences that happen in real life all the time,
there was another knock on the door. Sammy said, "Come in!"
A smiling Sable ferret in a red serge uniform,
carrying a large cardboard box, came in. "Hi, everyone! Glad you're all
here!"
"Hi, Murphy!"
"Goo-gleh!!"
"And 'Goo-gleh' right back at you, kiddo!
How are preparations coming?"
"Just fine, Murph." Sammy tapped the
letter he'd been reading. "Rabbi Joachim says he'll be more than happy to
come perform the ceremony. He's sent confirmation that he'll fly in a couple of
days before." Sammy had an odd catch in his voice. "You know, I've
performed several weddings myself here in the synagogue, but this one I can't.
It feels... weird."
Murphy nodded. "I can imagine. And I'll bet
you're nervous."
Sammy sighed. "Yes, to be honest... I'm
very nervous." He looked at Clarissa and she gave him a warm smile in
return.
Murphy hefted the box. "Anyway, they came
today! I figured you'd want to try them on, so here I am."
Clarissa sat up and looked excited. "Ooh,
yes, the shoes! I want to see them! I'm glad we came!"
Sammy looked at the box and didn't show that
much enthusiasm.
Like all creatures including humans, if they
get up the nerve to admit it ferrets hate wearing shoes. And since they'd
only recently developed sentience, they had no reservations about expressing
their opinions on the subject. However, sometimes ferrets needed shoes some things bare feet couldn't handle. On the shop
floor, the Skippys required safety shoes along with eye and ear protection. And
this particular pair of shoes would be necessary. Sammy knew this, but he
didn't have to be overjoyed about it.
Murphy looked around Sammy's desk for several
seconds. He finally shrugged and set the box down on a stack of books that
looked less unstable than the rest. He opened the box and took out two ferret-sized
shoes. They were black, with little adornment, and they were polished until
they shone.
Clarissa exclaimed, "Oh, those are perfect!
Not too showy, just right for the occasion. Sammy, I think they'll look just
fine on you!"
Murphy said, "Oh, I agree. Looks like
they'll fit, too. C'mon, Rabs, why don't we try them on?"
Sammy scowled and muttered, "Yeah, Murph,
'Rabs' here just can't wait. Clarissa, giggling doesn't help. You'll set Levi
here off in a minute look, see? What did I tell you?"
It was a warm
A local human synagogue had graciously donated a
tallit, and four ferrets were in the yard,
stretching the shawl over four poles to form a large canopy. They were soon
done, and some ferrets set up several rows of chairs and a table covered with a
white cloth beneath the canopy. Someone else brought two silver cups, a carafe
of wine and a beautiful glass and set them on the table. The chuppah was set up and ready.
Most of the activity was taking place indoors.
Since the groom and bride could not see each other for a week before the
wedding ceremony, they were greeting the guests in two separate receptions. Per
tradition, the chatan and kalah are considered to be a king and
queen, and the kalah was in one room,
sitting on her very own throne, greeting a steady procession of guests. In the
next room, toasts were being offered and songs were being sung in honor of the chatan. He was wearing his own tallit over a pure white kittel, and it made an interesting
contrast to his black yarmulke with the red trim.
Murphy stood next to his old friend; he was
wearing his best red serge tunic, with shining brass buttons and a white cord
on one shoulder. In place of his campaign hat he wore a simple white yarmulke.
In a nearby wheelchair was another Sable ferret, wearing a white yarmulke of
his own.
Max asked, "How you doing, Sammy? You look
nervous."
Sammy chuckled. "Not as bad as you might
think. The bride and groom are supposed to fast for a Jewish wedding, like we
do for Yom Kippur. I haven't had a bite to eat since I got up this morning, and
right now I'm starving! It's helping to distract me."
Murphy said, "No doubt. All these
refreshments they're serving here probably don't help much, though."
"That does make it more difficult, now that
you mention it. I appreciate it that you two aren't noshing in front of
me."
Max replied, "Hey, what are friends
for?"
"It's a pity you can't do something about
the singing. I appreciate my cousin Aaron making the effort, but he has a voice
like a rusty drainpipe."
Murphy said, "By the way, how are the shoes
doing?"
Sammy looked down at the black shoes, just
visible beneath his white robe and sighed. "I keep telling myself that
I'll need them later. That doesn't make it any easier wearing them."
Nearby, Sammy's mother Miryam was chatting with
some relatives from back East when another ferret lady came up to her. Miryam
smiled and said, "Hello,
"Oh, yes, the plate. You know, I've been
trying to figure out a good way for us to break it."
Miryam nodded. "I like you. You're
practical."
The sound of shattering crockery brought all
conversation to a halt, and everyone looked over to see the mothers of the
bride and groom standing over what was left of the plate. They were both smiling.
The act of breaking a plate is deeply symbolic of the seriousness of the
commitment and the potential fragility of any relationship. But it's also
somehow satisfying to a ferret to break something and get away with it.
Jakob stepped up to Sammy with a white veil in
his paws, and he held it out to his son. "Badeken time."
Sammy said, "Thank you, Father", and
took the veil. Followed by his parents, close relatives and his many friends,
he then walked to the reception room next door.
Seated on her throne, Clarissa looked up as
Sammy came in and smiled up at him. Sammy stepped forward with the veil, and
they gazed into each other's eyes for what was only a second. The look they
exchanged seemed to last forever, and it seemed to last for too short a time.
Then Sammy placed the veil over Clarissa's face.
In the yard outside, A klezmer band was
providing appropriate music for a Jewish wedding, and Rabbi Joachim stood
beneath the chuppah. Through the
front door of the synagogue came Murphy, the Best Man, and the rest of the
groom's attendants; Aaron was pushing Max's wheelchair along.
Through the front door, Sammy came out, escorted
by his parents Jakob and Miryam. They stopped just short of the canopy. Miryam
and Jakob stepped forward, and ushers escorted them to stand at the front row
of chairs. Murphy and the other attendants filed into the row behind and
remained standing. Sammy stood in front of the Rabbi.
The Maid of Honor, an old friend named Joanna,
and the bride's attendants came next from the temple door and walked to the chuppah; they filed in to stand beside the
groomsmen in the second row.
And the bride came out of the temple, escorted
by her mother Victoria. Clarissa's wedding dress was a simple white affair with
little in the way of adornment, but on her it shone like a bright beacon on a
dark night. Sammy watched her walking toward him and thought that she was the
most beautiful creature in the world.
Blessed to all and
welcome!
"He who is mightier
than all;
He who is blessed above
all;
He who is greater than
all;
He who distinguished
above all;
He should bless this
bridegroom and bride!
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord!"
Joachim picked up one of the cups and faced the chatan and kalah. He then gave the Kiddushin
blessing.
"Blessed are you,
Lord our God, king of the universe,
Who creates the fruit of
the vine.
"Blessed are You, Lord
our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and
commanded us concerning illicit marriages, forbidden to us the betrothed and
permitted to us those who are married to us by the rite of chuppah and kiddushin.
"Blessed are you, O
Lord, who sanctifies His people
Sammy and Clarissa tasted the wine in the cup.
The Rabbi picked up the marriage contract. The Ketubah details the responsibilities of
a Jewish husband, primarily the obligation to provide food, shelter and
clothing for his wife and to provide for her emotional needs. It was printed in
Aramaic, but Sammy had read an English translation earlier and had thought that
it was reasonable enough. He'd also thought that the artwork on the document
was quite exquisite, as it often is for a Ketubah,
and he knew it would look terrific on a wall in their home.
Rabbi Joachim read the Ketubah to the audience, his voice carrying even to the humans
outside the yard. Then he called for two witnesses. Murphy and Joanna came
forward and signed the document. The Rabbi then handed the Ketubah to Sammy, who handed it to Clarissa; it was now her
property.
The Rabbi said, "Sammy, do you, of your own
free will and consent, take Clarissa to be your wife; and do you promise to
love, honor and cherish her throughout life?"
"I do."
"Clarissa, do you, of your own free will
and consent, take Sammy to be your husband, and do you promise to love, honor
and cherish him throughout life?"
"I do."
It was simple little gold band that the Rabbi
held up then, as it was supposed to be. He said, "Sammy, you will now
betrothe the bride, in the presence of these witnesses, by placing this ring
upon the third finger of her left hand."
Sammy placed the ring on Clarissas finger and
looked into her eyes and said, "Behold, you are betrothed to me with this
ring, in accordance with the laws of Moses and
The Rabbi said, "Clarissa, you will now accept
the covenant betrothal offered to you by Sammy in the presence of these
witnesses."
Clarissa gently folded her fingers over Sammy's
own and over the little gold band. She said, "Behold, I am betrothed to
you with this ring, in accordance with the law of Moses and
Rabbi Joachim poured out the second cup of wine
and sang the Seven Blessings:
"Praised be thou O
Lord our God
King of the universe
Creator of the fruit of
the vine.
"Praised be thou O
Lord our God
King of the universe
Who created all things
for His glory.
"Praised be thou O
Lord our God
King of the universe
Who has fashioner of the
man.
"Praised be thou O
Lord our God
King of the universe
Who formed the man in
his image
In the image of the
semblance of His likeness
And prepared for him
from Himself a building for eternity.
Praised be thou O Lord,
who fashioned the man.
"May the barren one
Exult and jubilantly rejoice
through the gathering of her children
Amidst her in gladness.
Praised be thou O Lord
Who gladdens
"Gladden the
beloved companions
As you gladdened your
creation
In the garden of Eden from
days of old.
Praised be thou O Lord
Who gladdens the
bridegroom and bride.
"Praised be thou O
Lord our God
King of the universe
Who hast created joy and
gladness
Bridegroom and bride.
Rejoicing, song and
delight
Love and brotherhood
Peace and fellowship.
Soon may there be heard
in the cities of
And in the Streets of
The voice of joy, the
voice of gladness
Voice of the bridegroom,
voice of the bride.
The jubilant voice of
bridegrooms
In their nuptial
canopies
And of youths from their
feasts of song.
Praised be thou O Lord
Who gladdens the
bridegroom and the bride.
The Rabbi then picked up the glass from the
table and carefully placed it on the ground in front of the bride and groom.
Sammy, wearing his shiny black shoes, raised his right foot and brought it down
to smash the glass into shards.
The Rabbi said, "You may now kiss the
bride."
Sammy lifted the veil from Clarissa's and kissed
her, gently, deeply, for a moment completely out of space and out of time.
From the family from the attendants from the
friends and relatives from the crowd of humans outside the synagogue's front
yard rose a loud, joyous cry of "MAZEL
TOV!!"
Sammy and Clarissa, their arms linked together,
briskly walked back to the temple and to the Yichud room, for a few minutes of ritual seclusion. With people and
ferrets cheering behind them, Clarissa leaned close and whispered,
"There's food laid out for us in that room, isn't there?"
Sammy replied, "Oh, yes, plenty. Murphy
took care of that and he went all out."
"Oh, good. I don't know about you, but I'm
starving!"
Murphy had offered to help set up the Seudah dinner, but had been politely
told that there were plenty of folks that knew best how to handle these things,
so he'd snagged a glass of Ferretone wine and stood back to watch the
entertainment. Little Levi didn't understand all that was going on, but he sat
in his grandmother's lap and thoroughly enjoyed the acrobats and jugglers.
Sammy and Clarissa, the guests of honor, sat side by side and tried to pay some
attention to what was going on, but their eyes tended to gravitate to one
another and then they'd get distracted.
Another ferret, dressed in a red serge uniform
of his own, appeared next to Murphy and said, "Hello, son."
"Dad!" Murphy managed to give his
Father a hug. It must have looked odd to anyone nearby it must have looked like
he was grasping empty air but he didn't care. "It's good that you could
make it!"
The late Gordon Ferret smiled at Murphy.
"The Powers That Be won't let us do this sort of thing, except under
special circumstances, but this certainly qualifies. I wouldn't have missed it
for the world. It was a lovely ceremony."
"Yes, it was. Sammy explained a lot of the
significance behind the rituals in a Jewish wedding. It's fascinating!"
"Indeed. Levi was telling me about it
earlier."
Murphy raised his eyebrows and looked over at
the little kit in
Gordon shook his head. "Not him! 'Goo-gleh' doesn't allow for much
exchange of abstract ideas, Son. I mean Sammy's Grandpapa Levi!"
"Oh, that's right! Of course he'd be
here!" Murphy looked around, but he naturally couldn't see the old Rabbi.
"Has he talked to Sammy yet?"
"No, not yet. But he's here, all right.
Right now it's Sammy's and Clarissa's special time, and he doesn't want to
intrude."
Murphy nodded. He watched as Sammy brought his
new bride's paw up and gently kissed it. Clarissa in turn gave him a peck on his
cheek.
Murphy said, thoughtfully, "I think things
have changed now, Dad. The old team Sammy, Max, me isn't the same anymore. Clarissa
is a sweet girl, and they're right
for one another. But I can't help having my regrets."
"I don't think things will change all that
much, Son. She's quite an understanding lady. I think she's got a little bit of
adventure in her soul too. Look at it this way maybe the team has just gotten
bigger."
Clarissa looked around and her eyes lit on
Murphy. She smiled, but she didn't wave at him like someone else would have
done. Instead, she held up a paw and gave him a thumbs-up. Just like Sammy
would do.
Murphy slowly smiled and returned the thumbs-up.
"You know, Dad I think you're right."
Father and Son looked at each other and
exchanged a special smile of their own.
"L'chayim,
Dad."
"L'chayim,
Son."
THE END
Jewish words:
Chatan
Groom
Kalah
Bride
Kittel
The traditional white robe worn during Yom Kippur
Tallit Prayer shawl
Badeken The custom of the groom placing a veil over
the bride's face
Chuppah A canopy set up outdoors, under which the
wedding ceremony takes place; it is symbolic of the presence of God over the
covenant of marriage
Ketubah Marriage contract
Kiddushin Betrothal, marriage; the sanctification of a
man and a woman to each other
Yichud In Jewish Law, is the seclusion of a man and
a woman in a closed room or a private area; prohibited when the man and woman
are not married to one another; for a wedding, as here, it is traditional for
the new husband and wife to seclude themselves for a few minutes; an excellent
time to break the traditional fast
Seudah A festive dinner held after Jewish
celebrations to honor the occasion; in this case, to honor the bride and groom
Mazel tov
Good luck
Goo-gleh Your guess is as good as mine on this one
L'chayim As always, to Life