00:02I think Orthodox just means following the Torah, what it says.
00:08Every experience that I go through has a piece of my religion in it.
00:12It always connects back to my religion.
00:14I just live my life surrounded by God.
00:17The Torah, the Jewish Bible, begins with the letter Bet and ends with the letter Lamed.
00:25Together, they spell the heart.
00:27This is the wedding story of Hadassah and Zev, a young Jewish Orthodox couple from Baltimore.
00:34In two days, they will be married.
00:38Judaism is practiced by nearly 14.4 million people.
00:42More than two-thirds of adult Orthodox Jews are married, compared to about half of other Jewish adults.
00:49Orthodox Judaism requires adherence to the ancient laws of the Torah in every aspect of life.
00:56Tradition is important.
01:01Yes, is the answer.
01:03It's a concept that may seem old-fashioned to the secular world.
01:07But here, it's a way of life.
01:09As fresh as homemade challah, a special Jewish bread.
01:14When you do the sugar, as you pour it in, just have a little intention.
01:17What do you think?
01:18The sweetness of life.
01:19The sweetness of life.
01:21I'm a person that really likes tradition.
01:24I think it gives a lot of clarity and it gives you connection.
01:28I think it's very special to do what people did before you.
01:31I'm just watching you. It's amazing.
01:35In two days, Hadassah is marrying a man she's never held hands with, let alone kissed.
01:41We started dating this past June.
01:47So, don't freak out, guys.
01:50I'm a religious Jew, so I don't really, like, talk to guys until I'm ready to date.
01:58Okay, Zev.
02:00It's a big day. Two more days.
02:02All right.
02:03As the big day quickly approaches, Zev makes final preparations.
02:08How often do women get their hair cut?
02:10I think four to six weeks.
02:12Yeah.
02:13Men and women don't really talk too much unless they're dating.
02:20We only date when we're ready to get married.
02:23I knew from the first date that I wanted to marry her.
02:25It was definitely love at first sight, at least for me.
02:30You know, she's pretty cute.
02:32For most Jewish couples, they don't see each other the week before the wedding.
02:35You write notes, you send gifts, but you don't talk.
02:39For Zev and Hadassah, absence makes the heart grow fonder
02:43and serves as a final opportunity to work on themselves as individuals.
02:51The tallit is a special prayer shawl worn by married men during morning prayer.
02:56The day before the wedding, Zev's father shows him how to tie it for the first time.
03:02Hallelujah!
03:16Hadassah is so pure in her love for Hashem and a love for God.
03:23I see that and I and I want to be more I want to I want to do better I
03:26want to be a better Jew
03:29she's so great
03:32I hope there's a lot of giggling in the marriage because that's an important thing
03:37Do you giggle often together?
03:42Sporadically
03:48According to the Jewish Orthodox faith a couple's wedding day is one of the holiest days of their lives
03:55and they are considered to be closer to God
03:59Today is Hadassah's own personal Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement
04:04and she is freed of all transgressions and wrongdoings
04:08something the people in her community are here to honor
04:13because of her divine status on this day
04:15she bestows and receives blessings from loved ones
04:19it's here that she'll receive Zev and see him for the first time in seven days
04:25but first there are a few things he must agree to
04:33it says in the contract I will take care of her
04:37I will support her
04:40all sorts of lovely things
04:42but it does not say I will do the dishes
04:45oh
04:45okay
04:48under Jewish law
04:49the ketubah solidifies the promises Zev is making to his future wife
04:56laid to witness by more experienced generations
05:02the bride and groom's mothers break a plate to make it legal
05:09Zev is ready to meet his bride at the bedecken
05:12a traditional veiling ceremony
05:21Zev veils Hadassah as a sign of respect to her modesty and privacy during this holy time
05:29he offers her a blessing
05:30and his heart
05:45the wedding ceremony begins under the chuppah
05:49a marriage canopy which symbolizes the home they will grow together
05:52the bride then circles the groom seven times
05:56to break down any walls or barriers between them
06:00I think my perspective on marriage definitely has to do with my faith
06:03the way we see people getting married is that their spouse is the other half of their soul
06:12a shared sip of wine and a ring join them together
06:16a broken glass seals the deal
06:20when I get to hold my wife's hand for the first time
06:23I will be jumping for joy
06:33surrounded by their friends
06:34family and God
06:36Hadassah and Zev are married at last
06:39and finally they can have some alone time
06:43behind closed doors
06:45Hadassah and Zev spend their first 15 minutes alone
06:48in the Yehud or seclusion room
06:52an act that symbolizes their newly married state
07:06Ladies and gentlemen
07:07let's welcome to our panelist and panelist
07:10Mr. and Mrs. Sam and Natasha
07:13Hadassah!
07:14Hadassah!
07:16Thank you!
07:18Thank you!
07:19Thank you!
07:21Thank you!
07:21Thank you!
07:22Although men and women dance separately
07:24to avoid touching the opposite gender
07:26it's a requirement for all to bring joy to the bride and groom
07:30a commandment the guests take very seriously
07:39After today, Hadassah and Zev will have a special place in the community
07:43what lies ahead is a series of firsts
07:46and they will rely on their faith to guide them
07:51Today's world is very topsy-turvy
07:54and morals are a little skewed
07:56In Jewish married life
07:58we gain from the wisdom of the past
08:00and it doesn't mean that we're not innovative
08:03but it means that within the bounds of the past
08:06we can move towards the future
08:08To be continued...
08:10To be continued...
08:13To be continued...
08:14To be continued...
08:14...
