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Home > Hava Nagila

Michelle & Robin | Beach Party Jewish Wedding in Caesarea, Israel

24/09/2013 by Karen

beach-party-wedding
Today’s lovely couple, Michelle and Robin, met 10 years ago on an FZY Israel summer tour,  so it seemed fitting that they’d return to get married in Israel, and they did it in style. They chose one of the most spectacular beachside venues I’ve ever seen:  Al Hayam in Caesarea, Israel – totally breathtaking stuff, right on the seafront with Roman ruins all around.

From the start the couple knew that their dream wedding would have to be by the beach and hired Israeli wedding planner Nikki Fenton to help them bring their wedding day vision to life. There are lots of lovely creative ideas to glean from this wedding, as well as thoughtful touches for guests like a welcome pack that included sun cream, a  map of Tel Aviv, information on local shops and restaurants and then at the actual wedding, guests were given fans and flip flops, as well as lots of midnight sustenance like hot dogs, sweeties and ice lollies to keep them going all night long!
Jewish Wedding in Caesarea Israel 22
A VENUE BY THE SEA + A PURPLE AND WHITE COLOUR SCHEME
Michelle, the Bride: We chose a venue called Al Hayam  in Caesarea.  We knew we wanted a beach venue and Al Hayam has the added beauty of being surrounded by Roman ruins next to the sea. Within 5 minutes of meeting our amazing wedding planner, Nikki Fenton, she knew exactly which venue we would fall in love with and she was right!

We chose a colour scheme of purple, white and silver – we loved the idea of purple and white flowers everywhere and we ran the colour scheme right from the beginning with the Save The Date cards and Invitations arriving in purple organza bags with shells at the bottom of each bag.
Jewish Wedding in Caesarea Israel A Jewish Wedding in Caesarea Israel 12 Jewish Wedding in Caesarea Israel 13
A PURPLE AND WHITE FLORAL CHUPPAH
Nikki introduced us to an amazing event designer, Natalie Mann  who designed all aspects of our wedding. When it came to the chuppah she gave us options of the different types of flowers we could use. Natalie met us at the venue and took us through hundreds of pictures to inspire us with our chuppah design. We decided on purple and white flowers (lizianthums, roses and gypsofilia) across the top of the chuppah with two smaller arrangements to match on the inside back legs. Flower arrangements were placed on either side of the chuppah and we also had purple flowers on the back of each chair.

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The best non-traditional versions of ‘Hava Nagila’

11/09/2013 by Karen

The traditional  ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ style versions of Hava Nagila    are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, so why not choose a more original and fun variety for  your Jewish wedding playlist?

Choose a Hava Nagila (or ‘Have-a-tequila’!) that you feel reflects you both or fits the theme of your wedding.  Below I’ve sourced everything from a Cuban style version to American Jazz to Beach Party to Techno style renditions. And further down the page there’s some awesome YouTube versions to watch by Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, a Bollywood Hava Nagila, and a few more spectacles!

HAVA NAGILA BY  ALEX M vs. MARC VAN DAMME
Listen

A techno version of Hava Nagila that will get the party *pumping*!
Hava Nagila Techno

HAVA NAGILA BY  THE BARRY SISTERS
Listen

Hava Nagila with a  40s American jazz twist
Havana Nagila AMERICAN JAZZ

HAVA NAGILA BY  TERRA FOLK
Listen

Hava Nagila with an Irish folk band twist.
Havana Nagila Terra Folk

HAVA NAGILA BY  HAVANA GILA
Listen

Hava Nagila in a Salsa/Cuban fusion style. Very classy!
Havana Nagila

HAVA NAGILA BY  JOE BROWN
Listen

A bluesy version of Hava Nagila that starts slow and then really kicks in
Hava Nagila Joe Brown

HAVA NAGILA BY  MUNICIPALE BALCANICA
Listen

Hava Nagila with a Balkan Gypsy twist
Hava Nagila Balkan Gypsy Twist

HAVA NAGILA BY SCOTT WILSON
Listen

Hava Nagila with a Middle Eastern guitar twang!
Hava Nagila Guitar

 

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Jewish Wedding Glossary – Smashing The Glass Style

07/08/2013 by Karen

Jewish wedding glossary
So what do those funny-sounding Yiddishe/ Aramaic/Hebrew words associated with a Jewish Wedding really mean? It’s all laid out below for you complete with some all-important insights if you want to be really in the know…

AUFRUF: A short ceremony during the Shabbat (Sabbath) synagogue service that normally takes place on the Saturday morning before the wedding. The groom (and sometimes the bride) are honoured in front of their community. This is often followed by a small party or lunch (any excuse to add some food into a ritual).

ARAMAIC: A semitic language related to Hebrew that is often used as the wording in the ketubah (and a near-unpronouncable dialect that only rabbis seem to be able to enunciate / read).

ASHKENAZI: Jews of Eastern and Central European descent.

BADEKEN: A short but meaningful ceremony where the groom covers the bride’s face with her veil. It occurs just before the actual wedding ceremony and is a custom that derives from the biblical account of Jacob’s first marriage, when he was deceived to marry the heavily veiled Leah instead of Rachel, his intended bride.

The badeken is often emotionally charged as the bride and groom may not have seen each other for 24 hours or longer (as much as 7 days) until this moment.

BADEKEN JEWISH WEDDING
The Badeken ceremony as seen at Karen & Jeremy’s wedding [image by Earthy Photography]


BENCHERS / BENCHING:
A small booklet containing the Jewish blessings for a meal (or a Jewish songbook for dinner – we love singing!)

BIRKAT HAMAZON: Jewish blessings recited after a meal – known in English as Grace after Meals (or a Jewish songbook for after dinner jollity).

CHATAN: Hebrew word for groom or a son-in-law. It comes from the verb meaning to tie, connect or covenant.

CHAZAN: A cantor – often a trained musician – who plays an active role in the ceremony in prayers said as songs (and he more often that not sings better than the rabbi).

CHALLAH: Delicious sweet plaited white bread eaten on Shabbat and at celebrations (a bit like a brioche – absolutely scrumptious toasted with a little butter).

CHUPPAH: The wedding canopy which sits atop four poles that represents the couple’s future home(often mistakenly pronounced as ‘Chopper’ as in the bike , or ‘Chupa [Chups]’ as in the lollipops).

CHUPPAH JEWISH WEDDING
A Jewish Chuppah as seen at Lee Ann & Andre’s’ wedding [image by Gavin Hart Photography]

HA MOTZI: A Jewish blessing recited over bread.

HAVA NAGILA: A traditional Hebrew folk song played at Jewish weddings (it’s become the absolute staple of Jewish wedding bands).

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Cool alternative versions of Hava Nagila, the Hora and other Jewish Wedding music

09/07/2013 by Karen

jewish-wedding-dancing
Image taken from Mishie & Misha’s spectacular Amalfi Coast Jewish wedding

How about a twist on the traditional versions of Hava Nagila or the Hora? These mp3’s will add that different element to your Jewish wedding music and make sure that yours goes down as the coolest Jewish wedding in town. If you know any other great alternative versions of Jewish wedding music that’ll get everyone dancing like this (see 40 seconds in!) please add the links or names of the songs and artists in the comments section.

HAVANA NAGILA BY HIP HOP HOODIOS
Listen
A cuban version of Hava Nagila
Hip Hop Hoodios Havana Nagila

HAVA NAGILA BY MESHUGA BEACH PARTY
Listen
Hava Nagila with a surfing beach party twist
Meshuga Beach Party Hava Nagila

HASSIDISH BY SOLOMON & SOCALLED
Listen
SOLOMON AND SOCALLED

SADAGORA HOT TUB BY AMSTERDAM KLEZMER BAND
Listen
AMSTERDAM KLEZMER BAND


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