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What is the source and reason for a couple not to see one another before the wedding?

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    Related: judaism.stackexchange.com/q/17760
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Jan 21, 2013 at 4:27
  • 2
    Worth noting that many do not follow this practice, notable among them Rabbis Moshe Feinstein and Joseph Soloveitchik.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Jan 21, 2013 at 5:12
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    What are the source for R. Moshe and R. Soloveitchik?
    – mevaqesh
    Commented Jan 29, 2015 at 17:13
  • @mevaqesh See the article cited below, for one. The better question is why you would assume anyone who knew as much Torah as they did would care about this 'custom'?
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented May 19, 2015 at 21:02

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Jewish Action, Summer 2005 edition, has a "What's the truth about..." column by Rabbi Dr. Ari Z. Zivotofsky on not meeting for the week preceding the wedding. His main point is the lack of old sources for this custom, but he does cite several newer sources and the reasons they give. See there for the details, but the reasons and post-facto rationales offered are:

  • to avoid dam chimud (which he cites strong arguments against as a reason for the custom, so I'll ignore it);
  • to prevent discussions that will lead to strife (Rabbi E.M.M. Shach; Rabbi Y.S. Elyashiv, who therefore bans communication by telephone also);
  • to allow the couple time apart for introspection (Rabbi Binyamin Forst);
  • to heighten excitement (unsourced); and
  • to prevent premarital relations (unsourced).

And as Rabbi Zivotofsky notes, the last reason should apply only to being alone together, not to simply meeting. Also, see the article for reasons the custom does not exist at all and for rabbis quoted as saying it does not (but also some who defended it).

As always, consult your rabbi for a practical ruling.

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  • Copy-pasted (with some changes) from my own answer to an older question, which see for additional contributor information.
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Jan 21, 2013 at 4:34
  • Thanks; just can't help myself but to shout out that "those rabbis who say there's no such custom" includes Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (orally, not in writing). Don't get me wrong, it's still the standard custom, and CYLOR.
    – Shalom
    Commented Jan 21, 2013 at 13:34
  • @Shalom There is a custom (used to be more popular) to have the bride and groom have a party the night before the wedding hamichlol.org.il/%D7%97%D7%AA%D7%9F_%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%94%D7%9C
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Feb 1, 2023 at 15:41

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