When Jaime and Steve invited me to officiate their Jewish wedding in Toronto, they had a simple but beautiful question: What exactly happens under the chuppah? They were excited about their big day, but didn’t grow up deeply religious. While they both felt deeply connected to Jewish values and wanted to honour their heritage, they weren’t sure what each part of the Jewish wedding ceremony meant or how it would feel in the moment. Their curiosity and care led to one of the most heartfelt and...

When Alexis was planning her Jewish wedding with Brad in Toronto, one of the first questions she asked me was deeply personal and meaningful: “Can I walk down the aisle with both my parents?” Like many couples today, Alexis and Brad wanted their ceremony to reflect not just Jewish wedding traditions, but the reality of their family relationships. Her parents were both tremendously important in shaping who she had become. Her mom had taught her compassion. Her dad had taught her resilience....

When Rina and Dave first reached out to me, they were feeling both thrilled and a little nervous. They had attended Jewish weddings before, but this time it was their own. Their big question? “What should our guests know so they feel comfortable and connected during our Jewish wedding ceremony?” As a Jewish wedding officiant in Toronto, I hear this often. Many guests at modern Jewish weddings have never been to a traditional ceremony. Some aren’t Jewish. Others are Jewish but not currently...