The Seven Blessings

It is taught [in] another [baraita]: One recites the benediction of the grooms in the house of the grooms, and the benediction of the betrothal in the house of the betrothal. [With regard to] the benediction of the betrothal, what [formula] does one recite? Ravin bar R. Ada and Rabbah bar R. Ada both said in the name of R. Judah: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us through His mitzvot, and commanded us concerning the forbidden relatives, and prohibited to us those women who are betrothed, and permitted to us [those women] who are married by means of the wedding canopy and betrothal.

R. Aḥa, son of Rava, concludes [the blessing] in the name of R. Judah: Blessed are You, Lord, Who sanctifies Israel by means of the wedding canopy and betrothal.

One who does not conclude [the benediction of the betrothal in accordance with the opinion of R. Aḥa, but instead recites it without a concluding blessing, deems the formula of this blessing] just as [the formula] is in the blessing [recited over] fruits and the blessing [recited over] mitzvot, [in which the words: Blessed are You, Lord, appear only at the beginning of the blessing]. And one who concludes [the benediction of the betrothal in accordance with the opinion of R. Aḥa deems the formula of this blessing] just as [the formula] is [in the blessing] of kiddush, [in which the words: Blessed are You, Lord, appears both at the beginning and the conclusion of the blessing]. The sages taught: One recites the benediction of the grooms in [a quorum of] ten [men] all seven [days of the wedding celebration]. R. Judah said: And that is [the case only] when new faces [who did not previously participate in the festivities] came [to join the celebration].

What blessings does one recite? R. Judah said [that these are the seven blessings]: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has created all for His glory.

And [the second blessing is: Blessed are You . . .] Creator of mankind.

And [the third blessing is: Blessed are You . . .] Who made humanity in His image, in the image of the likeness of His form, and out of His very self formed a building (see Genesis 2:22) for eternity. Blessed are You, Lord, Creator of mankind.

[The fourth blessing is]: May the barren [city of Jerusalem] greatly rejoice and delight with the ingathering of her children within her in joy. Blessed are You, Lord, Who gladdens Zion through her children.

[The fifth blessing is]: Bring great joy to these loving friends, as You gave joy to Your creations in Eden in ancient times. Blessed are You, Lord, Who brings joy to the groom and bride.

[The sixth blessing is]: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has created joy and gladness, groom and bride, delight, exultation, happiness, jubilation, love and brotherhood, and peace and friendship. Soon, Lord our God, may there be heard in the cities of Judaea and in the streets of Jerusalem the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride, the joyous sound of grooms from their wedding canopy and of young people from their feast of song (see Jeremiah 33:11). Blessed are You, Lord, Who makes the groom rejoice with the bride.