The Hebrew phrase, which forms a gold ring in the center of the Chuppah, expresses powerful words of commitment from the book of Hoshea. Translated, the words are, “And I shall betroth you to me forever.” This gold ring is a visual metaphor for the wedding band given by a Chatan to his Kallah.

Along the Chuppah’s perimeter, across the front and back panels, are the Hebrew words of the last of the seven blessings, Sheva Brachot, that are said during the wedding ceremony. These words, translated from the book of Yirmiyahu, describe his compelling prophetic vision, “May there be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the sounds of joy and gladness, the sounds of the bridegroom and bride.”

Along the perimeter of the Chuppah, on the two side panels, are geometrically intricate stripes. These stripes are reminiscent of a tallit, a prayer shawl. On one level, the tallit, traditionally worn by the husband, is a counterpoint to the wedding band worn by the wife. On another level, the image of the tallit alludes to the custom of some communities to drape the Chatan and Kallah together in a tallit beneath the Chuppah. Finally, the tallit image is an expression of the traditional use of a simple and unadorned tallit for the Chuppah.