Jerusalem Weddings: One Instrument
Question
My friend told me that in Jerusalem there should only be one instrument at a wedding. Is this true?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
Yes, there is an intriguing custom in some communities in Jerusalem to only hire a one-man band to perform at weddings. Actually, at one time it was forbidden to have any instruments at a wedding in Jerusalem at all. It then became customary to allow the use of a drum as a drum was not considered to be a musical instrument, but merely a device to enhance singing, by generating a beat, eventually the rabbis allowed any one instrument, except an organ which is forbidden. The ban on musical instruments only applies at weddings. It does not apply to Sheva brachot, bar mitzvahs, britot, or chol hamoed celebrations.
Contrary to popular misconception, the ban on instruments at a Jerusalem wedding is a somewhat recent custom and not truly connected to the other ”zecher l’churban” customs. Rather, the ban was instituted about two hundred years ago by a council of Jerusalem rabbis, led by Rav Meir Auerbach, in response to a cholera epidemic that was devastating the city. It was believed that the cholera epidemic was a Divine punishment because people were not treating the Western Wall with the proper respect and reverence that it deserved.
The ban was also instituted in order to strengthen tzniut at weddings. This is because musical instruments were so rare back then, that many outsiders would converge on weddings uninvited simply in order to enjoy the music. This became a source of undesired mingling between genders.
Most Sefardim do not observe such a custom. Ashkenazim who observe this custom may attend a wedding that does not observe this custom.