Custom for the Chasan to read the verses of “VaAvrohom Zo’ken”
R. Bachyei says it is the custom for Chasan on the day of his wedding to read from the words "VaAvrohom zo'kein boh ba'yomim" until "V'lokachto ishoh livni mishom." This serves as a reminder to the public to attend to the chasan's needs and to point out that a man should not take a wife because of her beauty, as is stated in Mishlei 31:30, "Sheker hachein v'hevel ha'yofi," and also not for financial gain, as money has wings and readily flies away (see Mishlei 23:5), and also not to become a member of a family that can bring him to an exalted position or one of authority. If the chasan were to marry for even one of these intentions he will surely stumble and be punished. Rather, his intention should be solely for the sake of heaven. He should attempt to marry into a family that has elevated character traits, because children are drawn to the behavior of their mother's family (see Bava Basra 118a), just as wine absorbs the flavor of the vessel in which it sits.
What is the source for this custom?
Mentioned in the name of the Gaonim (either Rabbi Hai Gaon or, according to the Abudraham, from Saadyah Gaon). The Shulchan Aruch does not mention this custom. However, The Bais Yosef does mention a custom for the Chasan on the first Shabbos after the Chasunah to read a few verses from the portion of “Sos Tasis” after the regular Haftorah reading. In many Sepharic communities there is a custom for the Chasan on the first Shabbos to read seven verses starting with "VaAvrohom zo'kein boh ba'yomim" with the Okelus translation.
Discussions in the Poskim about this custom
Many questions are discussed. Is this Aliyah for the Chasan consider one of the seven Aliyos (six from the regular Parsha) or done separate? Does one read these verses from the Sefer Torah or from a printed Chumash? If read from a Sefer Torah, does the community take out a separate Sefer Torah for this reading? What happens if there is more than one Chasan that Shabbos, do they bring out multiple Sefrei Torah for each reading? Is it allowed for songs and Piutim to be said after the reading, while the Sefrei Torah are there?
The Incident that sparked a fire
These issues were debated in many communities with fiery spirit. One Shabbos in Pisa (north-west Italy) around 1735, after the first six Aliyos, a Chasan in his first Shabbos after the wedding, went up and ready the verses and it was counted as final Aliyah. Rabbi Eliezer Sopino, the Rabbi of Pisa, ruled that this action was approved. However, Rabbi David, the Dayan of the nearby town of Yivorna, strongly disagreed and was seconded by his broker-in-law the Rov of Bayonne, France. This argument went on for about 10 years about this incident about the Rabbis of Italy and southern France. Rabbi Eliezer authored a pamphlet on this subject titled קונטרס על ענין שבת החתונה to explain his side of disagreement. However, the discussion was very heated, and some burned his pamphlet in public. The heated debate continued for many even after the main disputants has passed way. The pamphlet was recently found and republished with background and biographic information in Yerushalayim in 2007 and is available for PDF download https://www.schocken-jts.org.il/uploads/files/ShabaHatuna.pdf.
