Bedecken (Noticing Each Other)

man and woman looking loving

Groom:

  הִנָּךְ יָפָה רַעְיָתִי הִנָּךְ יָפָה עֵינָיִךְ יוֹנִים 

Hinnakh yafah ra’yati hinnakh yafah einayikh yonim.

Ah, how fine you are, my love
how fine
your eyes like those of doves!

(Groom puts a kippah on bride’s head.)

Bride:

  הִנְּךָ יָפֶה דּוֹדִי אַף נָעִים

Hinkha yafeh dodi af na’im.

How fine are you, my beloved;
what joy we have together!

(Bride puts a kippah on groom’s head.)

Bride:

דּוֹמֶה דּוֹדִי לִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים

Domeh dodi litzvi o l’ofer ha-ayalim.

My beloved is like a gazelle
Or like a young stag.

(Bride pins a flower on groom.)

Groom:

לִבַּבְתִּינִי אֲחֹתִי כַּלָּה לִבַּבְתִּינִי בְּאַחַת מֵעֵינָיִךְ 

Libavtini akhoti kallah libavtini b’akhat me’einayikh.

You have stirred my heart
O my sister, my bride,
You have captured my heart
With one flash of your eyes.

(Groom pins a flower on bride.)


Copyright 1992 by David E. S. Stein. Used by permission of the author. All verses are taken from the Song of Songs.

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