CCAR RESPONSA
New American Reform Responsa
218. Hand Held Hupah
QUESTION: Does traditional Judaism have a preference for the hand held hupah or may the hupah be placed in a series of poles held in place by a base? (Laura Pollock, Philadelphia PA)ANSWER: Let us begin by looking at the origin of the hupah and its placement. The hupah was originally the room to which the bride and groom retired after the marriage ceremony in order to consummate the marriage (Psalms 19.7; Sotah 49b; Midrash Rabbah Genesis 114; Yad Hil Ishut 10.10; Tosefot 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 hupah indicated the transfer of the bride into the groom’s household. This is the generally accepted meaning. Some have considered the ceremony of veiling the bride as hupah 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). It is clear that the older usage of the hupah did 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 mentioned it as something used “nowadays” (Isserles to 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 tallit over the bride during the ceremony (Hamanhig 91b ff). The placement of our type of hupah 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 of its use in the synagogue courtyard. We see, therefore, that this symbolic use of the hupah during the wedding ceremony is relatively recent. A hupah may be beautifully embroidered. This has been done through the centuries especially by Sephardic communities. The texts said nothing about any person holding the hupah. It is likely that weddings in small communities, in the courtyard of the synagogue, or in the synagogue itself saw the hupah hand held. When a tallit was used it was probably simply spread over the bride and groom and rested upon them directly. When this led to the use of four poles is not known; this certainly was more practical and possibly more aesthetically pleasing. There is nothing which would demand one pattern or another. The hand held hupah involves four friends of the couple; that may be a positive factor. Of course, they may tire of the task and find it difficult to continue through the entire ceremony.March 1990
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