Glossary

Rabbinute רבנות‎
The Rabbinute is the rabbinical authority for Judaism in Israel, and oversees and manages many important institutions in the country.

Rabbinical Courts, Jewish marriage, Jewish divorce, Kosher laws and Kosher certification, Mikvehs, burials, Yeshivas, and conversion to Judaism are all under the authority of the Rabbinute. Jews wishing to get legally married in Israel must go through the Rabbinute. The Rabbinute has local offices in every municipality in the country.

Misrad Hapnim משרד הפנים
Literally translates to Ministry of the Interior. This is the governmental authority which issues identification cards, passports, and where you will register your marriage after the wedding.

Olam אולם
This general term means “venue.” It could mean a closed wedding hall, indoor/outdoor space, vintage villa, etc. A good rule of thumb is that an Olam will have: set up for pre-wedding cocktail hour (Kabbalat Panim), tables, chairs, and waiters for dinner service, a Chuppah for the ceremony, and a dance floor.

Gan Eriu’im גן ארועים
Literally translates to “Event garden.” This means a venue with a substantial outdoor area, most likely ideal for the summer months. Usually offers some sort of “covering” for the colder months, and some are closed completely during the winter.

Kabbalat Panim קבלת פנים
Loosely translated – “guest reception.” This is the pre-wedding cocktail hour. Appetizers and drinks are served, distributed by waiters walking amongst the guests and/or stands serving snacks. Usually starts about an hour before the ceremony.

Ketubah כתובה
The Jewish marriage contract. Essentially, it is a contract outlining the husband’s responsibilities and obligations to his wife. There are standard texts used for each denomination of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.) You can also make a Ketubah with your own custom text. For more on the ketubah, see here.

Chuppah חופה
The Jewish marriage canopy. In a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom stand under the Chuppah with the rabbi and their loved ones for the duration of the marriage ceremony. Traditionally, the Chuppah was a simple piece of fabric atop four poles, which would be held by honored guests. For more on the Chuppah, see here.

Mikveh מקווה
Simply put, the Mikveh is a spiritual “bath” which is used for Jewish ritual purification. It’s traditional (and required by the Rabbinute) for a Jewish bride to immerse herself in the Mikveh shortly before her wedding. For more on the mikveh, see here.

Hasa’ah הסעה
The Hasa’ah is a bus that you can rent to deliver your guests to and from the wedding venue. Hiring a Hasa’ah is considered standard practice for an Israeli wedding. For more information, see here.

Kallah כלה
Bride

Hatan חתן
Groom

Olah Hadasha/Oleh Hadash, Olim עולה חדשה , עולים
A new immigrant to Israel. A female new immigrant is an Olah Hadasha, a male new immigrant is an Oleh Hadash. The plural is Olim.

Tik Nissuin תיק ניסין
Marriage file that is opened at the Rabbinute.

Teudat Zehut תעודת זהות
An Israeli identity card which lists the holder’s first name, surname, parents’ names, birthday (both Hebrew and civil), country of birth and sometimes grandparents’ names. The card has a corresponding number which is often used in Israel for things like opening a bank account, entering into leases or contracts, and registering a marriage.

AKUM אקו”ם
Essentially, AKUM is a union for Israeli musical artists that protects their copyrights and ensures that they receive the royalties they are entitled to. AKUM charges a fee for playing music publicly from an artist that’s included in their repertoire – and even though a wedding is a private event, it’s still considered “publicly playing.” For more, see here.

Hagbara V’Teura הגברה ותאורה
Hebrew for “Sound and lighting.” Most Israeli wedding venues have permanent sound and lighting installed that you “rent” from the venue for the duration of your wedding. Someone from the venue’s team will manage the sound and lighting during your wedding, and the price of their labor is included in the fee. For more, see here.

Yaduim B’Tzibor ידועים בציבור
A status meaning a couple is “publicly known” – essentially, domestic partners or common law spouses. This option is available to both heterosexual couples and same-sex couples. This is different than being legally married and while common law couples do receive many of the rights that married couples do, there are some significant differences.

Orech Tekes עורך טקס
This term refers to someone officiating a wedding ceremony – usually means alternative officiant. This could be anything from a comedian who includes jokes about the couple within the ceremony to an acoustic guitar-playing Shaman type. Orech Tekes typically does not refer to a rabbi (Rabbinute-recognized or independent.)