A Person’s Sins are Forgiven upon Marriage

A Person’s Sins are Forgiven (Machal) upon Marriage

“Eisav took a wife Machalas daughter of Yishmael”

• Since forgiven for sins, the day becomes their personal Yom Kippur
• Only works if do Teshuvah (Rabbanan)
• Fasting needed to facilitate Teshuvah
• Perhaps they would become Shikur (drunk) and be unable to properly perform the legal acts of marriage
• Essence of day accomplishes forgiveness whether did Teshuvah or not (Rebbi)
• Teshuvah not required
• Since Mitzvos are beloved they are accustomed, like the original Chassidim, to fast prior to doing the Mitzvah of Marriage (like before performing Lulav or Shofar)
• Fasted due to preciousness of Mitzvos, even without Teshuvah (Rabbanan according to Rambam)
• Kiruv to HaShem even without fasting

Reasons for the Custom that the Chasan and Kallah Fast on the Day of the Chuppah

1. On the day of one’s Chuppah one’s sins are forgiven; it is like their personal Yom Kippur. Exegesis from the verse (Bereshis 28,9) “and he (Eisav) took Machalah (for a wife).” Since the day of the Chuppah is like one’s day of judgement, so one needs to fast to be forgiven (מחל).
2. On this day, one is advancing to a higher place. The Gemura (Sanhedrin 14a) states that one does not advance to a higher place unless one has be forgiven from one’s ins.
3. One needs to avoid becoming drunk at the time of Kiddushin. If one becomes drunk one would not have the required knowledge of one’s action which might disrupt the legal actions taking place.
4. One needs to avoid situations that might lead to quarrels at the Chuppah. The Gemara (Shabbos 130a) states that there is no Kesuvah that does not lead to quarrels that any Mitzvah that that one does not fulfill with joy, can lead to bad tidings. Thus, one must fast to nullify the negative “energy.”
5. The customs at the Chuppah are derived from Matan Torah. At Matan Torah the Jews fasted in preparation for their marriage with HaShem, so too the Chasan and Kallah also fast prior to the Chuppah.
6. Fasting in order to be in complete Simchah. Fasting for the sake of the Churban is only for special individuals at special times.
7. Mitzvos are beloved upon them. Rokeach tells us the due to the strong positive feelings and desire to perform Mitzvos, the early Chassidum would fast prior to doing a mitzvah (like Lulav) so they wanted to first perform the Mitzvos prior to eating.