Q&A: Aliyah to the Torah After a Wedding
Aliyah to the Torah After a Wedding
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi,
Is it possible to postpone the wedding aliyah to the Torah for reasons of convenience?
For example, the wedding takes place on Thursday, but they want to postpone the aliyah to the Torah to the following Sabbath rather than the closer upcoming Sabbath.
Answer
This is a custom whose source is in the Levush (and it is brought in the Magen Avraham), not a law. I see no reason not to change the Sabbath if it is inconvenient. For example, some do the aliyah to the Torah after the wedding and some before it.
Discussion on Answer
All of these are customs, and there is no obligation here. Do whatever suits you. Sheva Berakhot, of course, really is law. But the law only says to recite Sheva Berakhot at meals with new participants, etc. It has nothing to do with the Sabbath, hosting, and so on.
What?! Customs are not something binding? I’d be glad for an explanation.
A custom does have some standing, but it is not Jewish law. Especially when the custom itself is flexible. In any case, when there is difficulty, it is not such a problem to change it.
Does this also apply to the groom's Sabbath celebration? Or is the post-wedding groom's Sabbath celebration also just a custom?
If so, and they choose to postpone the aliyah to the Torah by a week, does that mean they should/can also postpone the groom's Sabbath celebration? Or can the two be separated and there's no connection—meaning, the groom's Sabbath celebration on the Sabbath after the wedding, and the aliyah to the Torah the week after that?