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Wedding Witnesses

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Question

What qualifies someone to be a "kosher" witness at a Jewish wedding?

Answer

The Rabbi officiating at the wedding determines who is a kosher witness. Different interpretations exist between Rabbis and between the "streams" of Judaism regarding the gender of the witness, the closeness in family relationship to either bride or groom, and even the degree of Jewish observance and belief. Since most signatures are in Hebrew, the witness should be fluent in signing their name in Hebrew.

Ask the Rabbi officiating to outline his/her standards for a kosher witness. Best Wishes,

Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
Foundation for Family Education (FFFE)

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