breaking the glass
Pronunciations
Definitions
n. The custom at the end of Jewish weddings for the groom to break a glass under his foot.
v. To perform the custom at the end of Jewish weddings of breaking a glass under ons's foot.
Example Sentences
"I can't decide whether or not to end the ceremony with the Jewish tradition of breaking a glass." (source)
"We're breaking the glass at the end of the ceremony and getting married under a chuppah, but we couldn't find a rabbi who would marry us and were told we're not able to sign a ketubah unless both partners are Jewish." (source)
Languages of Origin
- English
Who Uses This
- Jews: Jews of diverse religious backgrounds and organizational involvements
Regions
- North America
Dictionaries
- The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).
Alternative Spellings
break the glass
Notes
"It is common for the guests to respond with a hearty 'mazel tov.' There are many interpretations of this ancient practice; some popular ones include that the breaking of the glass is a reminder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and that it is a symbol of how fragile relationships are. Often, the broken glass is saved and incorporated in a piece of Judaica, like the stem of a Kiddush Cup or the frame of the couple’s ketubbah." (JPS)
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