When Chapter III was ending, Chapter IV had not yet started. We begin Chapter IV with an intravenous coffee infusion (IV Innoculatte). In a panic attack, the Jay's Diner Catering Manager went into a state of shock when he found out the IKRTS (Internal Kosher Rerservation Tax Service) was auditing him for unreported cash earnings.
Kavika and Enoch initiate Chapter IV by calling IX-I-I for an emergency vehicle. The ill manager, Chef Boiling Water Goldstein being taken to the Rez hospital, The What The Health Clinic; Kavika and Enoch begin preparations to take their brides.
KAVIKA: This part of the article will be published at a later date.
ENOCH: Ani Dodi, Veh Dodili. (I am My Beloved's, and My Beloved is Mine"). This quote from Shir Ha Shirim (Sing of Songs) 6:3 is the inscription on the interior of the white gold filigree wedding ring bans which Enoch and his bride to be will give each other at the ceremony.
When a young man and woman marry their souls intertwine. Two hearts beat as one. Each retains their own identity. Together they form a new one. One in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. So it is with their family, friends, and communities. In each case, there is a marriage.
When times are rough neither bride, groom or families have to go it alone. They now have each other. When things are good they can now experience and share the things we all crave. The good times are better, the tough patches less difficult for the union. What is true of husbands and wives is equally the case for families, communities and particularly close friends.
As Kavika and Enoch grow up together as blood brothers, now their brides to be, the Red Head and Enoch's own will become soul sisters.
Kavika's bride is known as the Red Head for reasons obvious to the non-color blind. Enoch's bride is called Perech Ha Midbar. That is Hebrew for Flower in the Wilderness, or Desert Flower. This is the pet name Enoch gave to her. For him, she is like a flower in his bachelor wilderness.
Some shorten this to just call her Perech. As in, "Excuse me Perech, may I please pass through this aisle in the Rez-Mart? Thank you kindly". Contrast this to when Enoch is in someone's way. Then you hear, "Hey Buddy, move it or lose it. Yer blockin my way"!
There are many customs and traditions in a Jewish Wedding. It is not a one day affair. For some of these rituals there are search engines to provide detail. What the Jewish, as the Native American Heritages, and so many other religious, secular, cultural and all possible combinations share in common is that each is unique in the way they address preparing two people to travel life's journey together. In the comments section, please share how your religion, culture, heritage, community or any other group handles this universal theme of a union between two people in love with each other. We all can learn and teach one another. Where there is open mindedness, respect, and a free exchange of ideas, everyone wins.
The foci of this narrative are to convey the roles Kavika and the Red Head have in the marriage of Enoch and Perech, and the ways and feelings Perech and Enoch have to and for each other; as for the Red Head and Kavika.
Things the reader may elect to look up on search engines not covered in this narrative are: Breaking of the Wine Glass, Shevat Berachot (Seven Blessings) Week, Shabbat Kallah (Sabbath Bride), Kabbalat Panim (Greeting of the Faces), Tisch (Groom's Table) Yom Kippur and Pre-Wedding Fasting, Bedecken (Veiling of the Bride. See also Genesis 24-64 and Genesis 38-14), Nissuin (Second Cup of Wine, elevating), and Birkat Ha Mazon (Grace After Meals - Benchen).
What will the roles of Kavika and the Red Head be in the wedding of Enoch and Perech?
1. Shomer and Shomerit (Guards). The bride and groom (Callah and Chattan) are to be considered and treated as royalty prior to, during, and following the wedding ceremony. During the week preceding and the day of the wedding Kavika and the Red Head will guard Enoch and Perech. They will protect them from anything which might distract, upset or harm them. They will each walk the one they guard to and from the Mikvah (ritual bath for physical and spiritual purification), to and from services. At the Auf Ruf, the Sabbath prior to the wedding, Enoch will be called Aliyah Le Torah (to the Torah reading to recite prayers). Kavika and the Red Head will be present. Following Enoch's blessings, the Congregation will sing "Seeman Tov U'Mazal Tov" (With a good sign and good luck). As a symbol of the sweetness of the new life Enoch and Perech will soon commence, candy is thrown at him. Kavika, as his Shomer will be the first to bean Enoch with soft wrapped confections.
2. Tena'im (Wedding Betrothal documents). These must be agreed upon and signed by a representative of the bride and groom just before the wedding. Kavika will be one of the two witnesses to sign on behalf of the Groom.
3. Shtar Ketubah (The Couple is legally engaged by the Tena'im). The Ketubah is the formal marital contract. It is the oldest women's rights contract known to human kind. It protects, in a legally binding fashion, the rights and interests of the bride and such children as shall issue forth from the union, should it dissolve in future. This is a practice that dates back more than six thousand years. Kavika will be one of two witnesses to sign the Ketubah.
4. Kiddushin (Consecration). Kavika will bring the wine goblet over which the Rabbi will recite a prayer, so the Bride and Groom can sanctify and consecrate their union by jointly holding the wine cup, and after a blessing co-consume the fruit of the vine. Kavika, as Shomer will be the ring bearer. He will give the ring to Enoch. Enoch will then place the gold band of set value on a finger of Perech and recite, "Behold; you are consecrated unto me with this ring according to the Laws of Moses and Israel". The ring must be made of solid uninterrupted gold (silver or platinum). There may not be any precious stones or holes to break the circle. The continuity of the ring symbolizes an everlasting marriage.
5. The Ketubah is now read aloud by Kavika, and the document is given Perech the Bride by the Groom. Enoch and Perech are now officially married. Kavika will be one of the people involved in the Nissuin (Uplifting of the Bride and Groom on chairs) during the dancing phase of the evening.
6. Kavika will be one of the guards who will escort Perech and Enoch for the Yihud (means alone-together). This is a private room for only the Bride and Groom. As guards, Kavika and the Red Head will guard the Yihud, to insure privacy for the newly weds.
7. At the wedding reception (Simchat Chatan Veh Kallah) Kavika and the Red Head will lead in the festivities of singing, dancing, fine dining and any other appropriate merry making. A wedding is a celebration. It should be fun. Kavika and Enoch will initiate a circle dance called the Horah on the male side, as will Perech and the Red Head on the female side. Most probably, it will be Hava Nagillah (Let's Rejoice).
What Kavika will do as the Male Guard (Shomer) the Red Head will do as the Female Guard (Shomerit). The roles are similar, equal and gender differentiated. For example, the wedding ceremony will take place under a Canopy (Chupah). It is four polls covered with a decorative cloth and ornaments. It is the first roof the Bride and Groom will share together. It is symbolic of the tent of Abraham and Sarah. Like their tent, it is always open to guests, so it contains no walls.
Following a brief processional of both families, Kavika will escort the groom to the Chuppah, while the attendees sing Baruch Ha Bah (Blessed is he who comes).
The Bride, Perech enters last. The Red Head will join the Bride and Groom's mothers in escorting the Bride seven times around the Chuppah. This is a custom rich in three types of symbolism.
First, these circles parallel the seven days of creation. The Bride and Groom will create a new life for themselves and family to come together.
Second, the seven circles correspond to the seven times in the Torah where it is written, ---"and a man takes a wife".
Finally, when Joshua led Israel in the battle of Jericho he was instructed to circle the city seven times, resulting in the walls crumbling. As two people enter marriage, they face the challenge of breaking down such walls as may exist between them, so they do not separate them.
One other thing the Red Head will do of note as Shomerit. As the Groom has a Tisch, so the Bride will have her Kabbalat Panim. For the custom of receiving of the faces, please use a search engine. We want to finish this Tour de Force with a variance to the lyrics of a Hebrew folk song, Bah Shanah Ha Bah'ah (Next Year).
Next year will we sit on a balcony, savor refreshments; and share tales of good times.
Next year we will hold hands and go for walks in the park.
We shall watch and listen to children play. We know in due time it will be our children, playing with each other.
Giggling, running. climbing, discovering. Even as Kavika and Enoch did growing up as blood brothers on the Kosher Rez.
Next year. Next year.
