Sanctifying Intimate Relationships

Intimate relationships bring two people together in a unique emotional and physical connection. This is something to celebrate, whether through the public festivity of a wedding, or in the private reflection of immersion in the mikveh. Sanctifying our intimate relationships elevates these unions and gives them a context of meaning and joy.

Photo by Jordan Cassway

Special Situations

Article

Special situations at a wedding, including a second marriage, non-Jewish family members, and divorced parents [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

New Twists on Tying the Knot

By Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer | Article

Three innovative and creative practices, including a two-act play as wedding ceremony [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Creating New Lifecycle Rituals

By Rabbi Yoel H. Kahn | Article

This article articulates principles of Jewish ritual as the author uses them to create a same-sex Jewish wedding. [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: LGBTIQ, same-sex wedding

Tena'im

By Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman and Rabbi Renee Bauer | Document

A new tena'im (engagement) document for same-gender and mixed-gender couples [more]

Found In: Honoring Relationship Milestones

Tags: LGBTIQ, tenaim

B'rit Ahuvim – Lovers' Covenant

By Rachel Adler | Document

An alternative to the ketubah which explicitly rejects the language of kinyan (acquisition) in favor of the mutual language of covenant. See article on the Ketubah. [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: brit ahuvim, ketubah

Lesbian Wedding

Rosanne Leipzig and Judy Mable | Article

An article about the couple's process of creating their wedding ceremony [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: LGBTIQ, same-sex wedding

A Blessing for Two Women on the Occasion of Their Wedding

By Rabbi Leila Gal Berner | Prayer

A blessing to be read to two women under their chuppah [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: LGBTIQ, same-sex wedding

A Traditional Lesbian Wedding

By Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann | Complete Ceremony

Kathy, Joyce and their rabbi found innovative ways to rework the traditional wedding ceremony to suit their needs as two women. [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: LGBTIQ, same-sex wedding

Nissuin (Nuptials)

By Rabbi Rona Shapiro | Article

The text of the blessings in Hebrew and translation, an explantion, feminist considerations, two alternative same-sex texts and an additional prayer for heterosexual couples to add for same-sex partners whose love is not yet sanctified and recognized in the same way. [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: LGBTIQ, same-sex wedding, sheva brakhot

A Lesbian Havdalah Wedding

By Judy & Chris | Complete Ceremony

This beautiful Covenant of Love ceremony begins with havdalah and is filled with personal expressions of love and well-chosen readings. This ceremony is both a good example of how a lesbian couple reckoned with tradition and also how to make a ceremony extremely personal. [more]