Sheva Brachos: Bottling the Joy

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heva brachos, the week of rejoicing that follows a couple’s wedding, instituted by Moshe Rabbeinu, seems almost magical in nature. The chassan and kallah spend seven days dressed in their best clothing, they’re wined and dined each evening, and they aren’t allowed to go to work. The entire week is dedicated to enjoying each other’s company.

Chazal compare a chassan to a king. Similar to royalty, when the chassan goes to shul, he needs to be accompanied, and likewise the kallah needs an attendant when she goes out alone as well.

There was a sevenfold blessing that Hashem gave to Adam and Chava upon their marriage. We mirror these blessings for the entire week, jump-starting the young couple in their task of building a home of holiness and joy. What ideas can be gleaned from the week referred to as sheva brachos?

Happiness Is Key

Rabbeinu Bechaye explains that marriage is similar to creation; hence, there is one week of celebration, including a Shabbos. Hashem created the world with ten utterances; correspondingly, there needs to be a minyan present when saying the sheva brachos, these special seven blessings. There are also ten expressions of joy that are found in the final brachah.