Jewish weddings in Venice

Jewish weddings in Italy are becoming more and more popular every year and Venice in particular is one of the cities that welcomes this amazing and meaningful type of ceremony. Orthodox wedding ceremonies in Italy can take place in a Sinagogue, there is a beautiful one in the Jewish Ghetto in Venice, where two Jews are united in matrimony under a Chuppah that symbolizes the new home being built by the couple when they become husband and wife. The Community in Venice is Orthodox and follow the Sephardic minhag. Outdoor ceremonies in a private location instead are allowed with a Reform Rabbi or if the couple travels with their Rabbi, and Venice sure offers several options for ceremonies and receptions that are known for being jubilant celebrations where dancing is a really important part.

Jewish wedding ceremonies are full of elements that reflect the history and beliefs of the Jewish people, elements like the Chuppah or the shattered wine glass.

Today Venice has five synagogues (Schola Spagnola, Schola Levantina, Schola Italiana, Schola Tedesca, Schola Canton.), a Jewish bookstore, a Jewish publishing house, a social centre, a museum, a yeshiva and a kosher restaurant. The Schola Spagnola synagogue was built around the end of 16th century and is the biggest and most impressive between all the Venetian Schole, with a big wooden main door on top on which there are big windows with coloured glass plugs.

The date of the wedding is agreed with the Rabbi in accordance to the Jewish law since there are periods of the year when weddings are not allowed. Jewish ceremonies are religious only, there is no agreement between the Government and the Jewish community that authorizes Jewish weddings that are legally binding at the same time.