CARR 285-286 - Central Conference of American Rabbis

QUESTION:

A sculptor has created a permanent huppah with a brass top simulating leaves and

vines. May this stand as a synagogue ornament, or must it be disassembled between weddings?

(Rabbi J. Glaser, New York, NY)ANSWER: Let us begin by looking at the origin of

the huppah and its placement. The huppah is referred to the room to which the

bride and groom retired after the marriage ceremony in order to consummate the marriage

(Psalms 19.7; Sotah 49b; Gen. Rabbah 114; Yad Hil. Ishut 10.10; Tosfot to Sukah

25b and Yoma 13b, etc.) Usually this was in the house of the groom. Therefore, the act of

bringing the bride to the huppah indicated the transfer of the bride into the groom’s

household. This is the generally accepted meaning; some consider the ceremony of veiling the

bride as huppah, for it established a new relationship between bride and groom (Isserles

to Shulhan Arukh Even Haezer 55.1; Ezekiel Landau to Shulhan Arukh Yoreh

Deah 342.1; see Taz to Yoreh Deah 342 for a contrary opinion). In any case, it is clear that the

older usage of the huppah does not refer to the simple canopy now used during wedding

ceremonies. This was introduced in the late medieval period, possibly just before the time of

Moses Isserles, as he refers to it as something used “nowadays” (Shulhan Arukh Even

Haezer 55.1). The custom itself may have come from the earlier medieval minhag of

spreading a talit over the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony, or of the groom

simply spreading his talit over the bride during the ceremony (Hamanhig 91b ff).

The placement of a huppah within the synagogue has not been accepted by all

authorities. Moses Sofer objected to it as a Gentile custom (Hatam Sofer Even Haezer

#65). Isserles knew its use in the synagogue courtyard (Isserles to Shulhan Arukh Even

Haezer 61.1). We see, therefore that this new symbolic use of the huppah during the

wedding ceremony is relatively recent. Nowadays, a huppah may be beautifully

embroidered. There would be nothing wrong with having a permanent sculptured floral

huppah. There is nothing in literature which deals with the storage of the

huppah or its placement when not in use. As it mostly consists of a cloth placed on four

staves held by four friends, the question does not arise. Even when placed on poles, there still is

no reason to display it after the wedding. Such work of art may be displayed

permanently. It would be a beautiful addition to the ritual items of a synagogue. Many

synagogues have had a permanent chair for Elijah for use during a berit, so they may

now have a permanent huppah. It would form an appropriate reminder of the

mitzvah of marriage.April 1982