The exterior sides of this chuppah incorporate four phrases that expand on the importance of the stars in Jewish liturgy: The first, God's blessing to Abraham, "And I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars in the heavens." Another side proclaims: "And God said, let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years," (Genesis 1:15,) refers to the use of the moon and stars to determine the appointed festivals in the Jewish calendar, the times for prayers, and the order of Jewish life cycle events. Two other phrases on the chuppah's exterior. The first, from Psalms, "He counts the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names," stresses the idea that God looks upon each one of his infinite creations as an individual, precious world. The other is from the book of Daniel, "And they who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever."
The center of this chuppah features the four swirling rivers of the Garden of Eden which surround an embroidered star chart, a replica of the sky above Jerusalem on Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Independence Day, 1948. Light representing the stars that shone on Jerusalem on that historic day filters through the chuppah, reminding the participants below of God's Biblical blessing to Abraham and of His constant presence in their lives.
Finally, the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, grouped in four sets, adorn the corners of this chuppah. These four groupings reflect God's instruction for the twelve tribes' physical encampment around the Mishkan (tabernacle) -- the layout of each encampment corresponds to the array of the twelve constellations of the Zodiac in the night sky. The four groups also mirror the arrangement of the twelve precious stones on the High Priest's breastplate. A border of pomegranates and bells around the edge of the chuppah further refers to the garb of the High Priest, who wore such a garment on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, when God's presence was revealed to him inside the Mishkan. The wedding day is thus compared to Yom Kippur, as the bride and groom, who have fasted, are dressed in white and are at their holiest state, join together to experience God's blessings under the sanctified space of the chuppah. |
