THE CHOSSEN
Hebrew-Chatan - (ha-TAN) The groom., In Yiddish, "Chossen." And a wedding is called "A Chosseneh"
Do not let your heart be troubled: you believe in HASHEM, believe also in
me. In my Abba's (Father's) beis (home) are many chambers: if it were
not so, I would have told you so. I go to prepare a place for you.
And since I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you to myself; that where I am, there
you will be also [Yonason 14:1-3] (John 14:1-3).
Those with a western mindset do not catch the significance of Rebbe
Yeshua's bethrothal. This is due to the fact that in His promise,
Rebbe Yeshua haMoshiach was drawing midrashiclly (alegorical) from
The Jewish marriage.
The first major step in the ancient Jewish marriage was betrothal.
Betrothal involved the establishment of a marriage covenant. By Rebbe
Yeshua's time it was usual for such a covenant to be established as
the result of the prospective bridegroom taking the initiative. The
prospective chatan (bridegroom) would travel from his father's house
to the home of the prospective bride. There he would negotiate with
the father of the young woman to determine the price (mohar) that he
must pay to purchase his Kallah (bride). Once the bridegroom paid
the purchase price, the marriage b'ris (covenant) was there by
established , and the young man and woman were regarded to be husband
and Kallah (bride). From that time on the kallah (bride) was declared
to be consecrated or sanctified souly for her bridegroom. As a symbol
of the b'ris (covenant) relationship that had been established, the
chossan (groom) and kallah (bride) would drink from a cup of wine
over which a betrothal benediction had been pronounced.
After the marriage covenant had been established, the chossan (groom)
would leave the beis (home) of the Kallah (bride) and return to his
Father's beis (father's house)occupying his time preparing a place for her in his father's house to which he could eventually bring her.
There he would remain separate from his bride for a period of twelve
months. This period of separation also allowed the kallah (bride)
time to prepare herself for the life of a married woman.
At the end of the period of separation the Chossen (groom)would come
to snatch his kallah (bride) away.
The snatching away of the bride usually took place at night.
The groom, best man and other male escorts would leave the Chossen's
(groom's)father's beis (house) and form a torch light procession to
the home of the kallah (bride) . The kallah (bride) did expect by the
season for him to come and snatch her away, however, she did not
know the exact day or hour of his coming. As a result the groom's
arrival would be preceded by a shout, and the blowing of a shofar,
this would alert the Kallah (bride) to beprepared for the
coming of the groom, she had better have oil in her lamp and the
curlers out of her hair.
After the groom collected his kallah (bride), together with her
female attendants, the wedding party would return from the bride's
home to the Chossan's (groom's) father's house. The wedding guests had assembled
allready.
Soon upon arrival the Kallah (bride) and groom would be escorted by
the other members of the wedding party to the chuppah.
The chuppah is often made of velvet with embroidery and fringes but
sometimes a floral canopy is used. The chuppah is supported by four
poles which is optionally held during the ceremony by friends or
relatives. Under the chuppah is a table with two glasses and a bottle
of kiddush wine.
The ritual veiling of the kallah (bride) by the groom is called B'deken -
(b'DEKEN)
Under the
chuppah the kallah (bride) stands to the right of the groom.
Under
Orthodox minhog (custom), the kallah (bride) may circle the groom seven times
(representing the seven wedding blessings) before taking her place at
his right. The seven blessings are called Shevas Brochas
After the introduction by the Rabbi, the Chossen recites his wedding
vow and gives the ring to the kallah(bride). The ring is a more modern minhog (custom).
Next the kesubbah 
is read aloud.(The Torah is Yisroel's kesubbah, and still valid today)
This is followed by a reading of the seven wedding blessings (Shevas Brochas)by Rabbis or a guest(s). During this reading the bride and groom sip their wine
. When the reading is done, the Chatan (groom) breaks a glass with
his foot.
The breaking of the glass represents various things, one of which is
the destruction of the Beis haMikdosh (Temple). The shattered glass also reminds us of
how fragile life is. But it depends on which Rabbi you ask this
question.
A typical celebration includes circle dancing where the bride and
groom may be lifted above the circle. In Orthodox communities, where
dancing with the opposite gender is prohibited, a special dance may
be done where the dance partners (the couple who just married) will hold opposite ends of a scarf.
Prior to entering the chamber the kallah (bride) remained veiled so that no
one could see her face. While the groomsmen and bridesmaids would
wait outside, the kallah (bride) and chatan (groom) would enter the bridal
chamber alone.(Hey, don't blush, it's kosher at this point, in privacy of course) There in the utter privacy of that place they would physically join, thereby
consummating the marriage that had been covenanted earlier.
After the marriage was consummated, the groom would announce the
consummation to the other members of the wedding party waiting outside
the chamber [Yochanon 3:29] (John 3:29). These people would pass on
the news of the consummation of the marital union(yihud) to the
wedding guests. Upon receiving this good news the wedding guests
would gnosh (feast) and schmoozing (shooting the breeze) for the next seven days. Did I mention dancing? This is the proper time for dancing! Men on one side of the mechitzeh (curtain, divider) and women on the other side. (NOTE: for more on the subject of the Mechitzeh read the book "The Mechitzeh, the sanctity of the Synagogue". Avialable at any Jewish bookstore.)
During the seven days of the wedding festivities, which were sometimes
called " 'the seven days of the chuppah,' " the kallah (bride) at this
point remained hidden in the her chamber. But, at the end of these
seven days the Chossen (groom) would bring his Kallah (bride) out of the bridal
chamber, finally with her veil removed, so that all the guests could
see who his kallah (bride) was.
Nu!
In Yonason 14:1-3 (John 14:1-3) R. Yeshua haMoshiach drew a midrash (analogy)
from Observant Jewish marriage customs.
It is essential that his midrash (analogy) be examined.
In what ways was R. Yeshua haMoshiach's promise analogous with
Jewish marriage customs?
In the examination of this midrash the first thing that.
should be noted is the fact that the Tenach (Torah, Novi'eem and
Kessu'veem) regard that Israel, which is compiled of Messianic Jews
The Olive tree) and Messianic Gereem to be the Kallah (Bride) of
Moshiach.[letter of Rabbi Sha'ul Shaliach to The Romans in Ch 11. }
(Gereem: Non Jewish believers that are grafted in, one level of a
convert)
Then looking at the letter of Rabbi Sha'ul haShaliach to the Ephesians
ch. 5:22-33. ,
Just as the Jewish bridegroom left his father's house and traveling
to the beis (home) of the prospective Kallah (bride), so R.
Yeshua haMoshiach left his Father's house in Shomyim (heaven) and
travailed to earth, the home of His prospective Kallah (bride), over
1900 years ago.
R. Yeshua haMoshiach came to this world to obtain his Kallah,
Isreal (Messianic Jews and non Jews) through the establishment of a B'ris Chadasha (Renewed covenant), thus revising parts of Torah
(Torah translated into English is "Instruction")
R. Yeshua haMoshaich made His betrothal promise recorded in Yonason CH.14
(John 14) during that last Pesach (Passover) seder together, thefore
making the foreshadowing in our exodus from Mitzryem (Egypt) complete.
As He said a borucha and passed the kiddish cup of wine to His talmid'eem (disciples), He said: "This cup is the REnewed
covenant in my blood" [1st letter of Rabbi Sha'ul Shaliach to the
Corinthian Kehilah in 11:25. also speaks of this.]
This was His way of saying that He would establish a B'ris Chadasha
(RENEWED covenant) through his korbin (sacrifice).
Parallel to the custom of the Jewish chossen (groom) paying a price to
purchase his Kallah (bride), Rebbe Yeshua haMoshiach paid a price
to purchase His Kallah (Bride),
He paid was His own life.
It was because of this purchase price that
Rabbi Sha'ul haShaliach wrote the following to members of the the
Messianic community: "do you not know that you are not your own? For
you have been bought with a price;therefore glorify HASHEM in your
body" (1st letter of Rabbi Sha'ul to The Kehilah in Corinth 6:19-20)
Analogous with the Jewish Kallah (bride) being declared to be
sanctified (set apart) exclusively for her Chossen (groom) once the marriage
covenant was established, the Messianic community has been declared
to be set apart exclusively for Moshiach
(Letter from Rabbi Sha'ul to The Kehilah in Ephesis 5:25-27; and The 1st one to The Corinthians 1:2, 6:11;
Letter to The Messianic Jews [sometimes called Hebrews] 10:10; 13:12).
R. Yeshua haMoshiach had gathered with His talmid'eem (disciples)
in an Upper Room. In a few more hours He would nailed to a tree (By the way, in Jewish writings the blood of Jewish martyrs atone for thier generation).
That cup that held the wine he made a borucha over and served at that seder is
a symbol of the marriage covenant through which the Jewish chatan
(groom)
obtained his kallah (bride), so the cup of Pesach serves as the
symbol of the covenant through which Moshiach has obtained
the Messianic community (True Yisroel, Messianic Jews and Gereem,
or grafted in non Jewish believers which are like Rus, a.k.a. Ruth)
[1st letter of Rabbi Shaul haShaliach to The Corinthians 11:25].
.
Just as the Jewish groom left the beis (home) of his Kallah (bride)
and returned to his father's beis (house) after the marriage b'ris
(covenant) had been established, so R. Yeshua (The Chossen, i.e. Chatan)left the
earth, the home of the kallah (bride), and returned to His Father's
beis (house) in shomiyim (the heavens) after He had established the Bris
Chadasha (Renewed covenant) and risen from the dead to be the 1st (highest order, or order leader) of Tereas haMaysim (ressurection of the dead) ... [Yonason
6:62; 20:17] (John 6:62; 20:17)
In correspondence with the period of separation between the Jewish
Chossen (groom) and his kallah (bride), Moshiach has remained separate
from the kallah for over 1900 years. The Messianic community
(True Yisroel, composed of Messianic Jews and Gereem) is now living in
that period of separation.
Parallel to the custom of the Jewish Chossen (groom) preparing a home
for his bride in his Father's house during the time of
separation, Rebbe Yeshua haMoshiach has been preparing living
accommodations for the Messianic community (Yisroel) in His Father's
beis (house) in Shomiyim (the heavens) during His separation from His Kallah (Bride)
[Yonason 14:2] (John 14:2).
In the same manner as the Jewish groom (chossen) came to take his Kallah (bride)
to live with him at the end of the period of separation, so Rebbe
Yeshua haMoshiach will come to take the Messianic community
(remnant Yisroel) to be with Him at the end of this period of
separation.
[Yonason 14:3] (John 14:3).
Just as the taking of the Jewish kallah (bride) was accomplished by
a procession of the groom and male escorts from the groom's father's
beis (house) to the beis of the kallah (bride), likewise,
the taking of the Messianic community (remnant Israel) will be
accomplished by a procession of Moshiach and escort of Malakim
(angels) from Moshiach's Father's house in Shomiyim (the heavens) to the
home of the Messianic community (remnant Yisroel) [1st letter
of Rabbi Shaul to The Thessalonians 4:1-6] .
Analogous with the Jewish Kallah (bride) not knowing the exact time
of the chatan's (groom's)coming for her, the Messianic community
(remnant Israel, The messianic community) does not know the exact time
of Moshiach's coming for her. It is belief in Judaism that 6000 years is the earth, and the seventh 1000 year period is the Shabbos. I guess that puts us at Friday afternoon.
In the same way that the Jewish chossen's (groom's) arrival was
preceded by a shout,so Moshiach's arrival to take Yisroel
(The messianic community, i.e. Klal Yisroel) will be preceded by a shout [1st letter of
R. Sha'ul to The Thessalonian Kehilah 4:16].
Similar to the Jewish bride's return with the chatan (groom) to his
father's beis (house)after her departure from her beis (home), the
Messianic community Yisroel) will return with Moshiach to His Father's
bayis (house) in Shomiyim (the heavens) after she is snatched from the
earth to meet him in the air [1st letter of R. Shaul to The
Thessalonian Kehilah 4:17; & Yonason 14:2-3] (John 14:2-3).
Come My people, enter your chamber and shut the doors behind you.
Hide yourselves for a little while until' the wrath is past, for see
HASHEM emerges from his place to punish the inhabitants on the earth
for there rebellion averos (sins). [Yesheyohu 26:20] (Isaiah 26:20)
At this time, Yaakov (The part of the Jewish people that were cut
off of the tree of Yisroel for disbelief in Yeshua haMoshiach as The letter to The Roman Kehilah says in Perek, Chapter, 11) some of them unfourtinatelly will not make it, but some
will and be grafted back into Yisroel when they come to know Rebbe
Yeshua as Moshiach [Hoshea ch 6.] & [Letter of R. Sha'ul to The
Romans 11:23-24]
In the same manner as the Jewish wedding party found wedding guests
assembled in the groom's father's house when they arrived, so
Yisroel (The Messianic community) returning with Moshiach will find
the believers from Tenach such as Moishe Rebbienu (Moses) and
Eliyahu (Elijah) when they (we) arrive.
Parallel to the custom of the Jewish groom and kallah (bride) entering
into physical union after their arrival at the groom's father's house, thereby consummating the marriage that had been
covenanted earlier, Moshiach and Yisroel(The Messianic community
consisting of phsyical Jews and non Jewish believers,i.e.Gerim)
will experience
spiritual union after their arrival at his Father's house
in the Olam haba (world to come), thereby consummating their
relationship that had been covenanted.
Just as the proposal that the Jewish bridegroom made could be accepted
or rejected, so Moshiach's proposal to you can be accepted or
rejected. Please make the correct choice, I would like to see you in
Olam haba (the world to come). Hashem is the one who sent him, he is Hashem's (G_d's) choice, may he be our's as well. Yesher koach!
B"H
Michoel S.