Sanctifying One’s Thoughts At the Time of the Chuppah

The time of the chuppah is a most propitious time for bride and groom. They should therefore focus their thoughts and think solely of holy, pure and G‑d-fearing matters. The Rebbe’s father, the gaon, mekubal and chassid, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, of blessed memory, writes:1 “Constantly think G‑d-fearing thoughts under the chuppah, and that you should have G‑d-fearing children, and upright and blessed generations.”

The world of thought is not revealed and palpable, nor is it capable of being grasped with man’s five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch). Nevertheless, thought can have an actual and very real effect on physical matters.

Our Sages demonstrate in many places how man’s thoughts affect the physical:

With regard to sacred offerings and donations: When a person decides to consecrate an offering, i.e., “he made up his mind that this animal shall be consecrated as a burnt offering,” then this thought of his brings about the sanctification of the animal, i.e., the animal’s status is no longer in the private realm but part of the Temple domain.2

With regard to the separation of terumah: If a person mentally separates terumah, the produce that he mentally separated becomes terumah.3

At the time of bringing a sacrificial offering: When one has an invalid thought during the time he brings an offering, the offering becomes invalid — “thoughts of ‘change of name,’4 ‘change of place,’ and ‘change of time’ invalidate the offering.”5

The same is true regarding a wedding: The bride’s and groom’s good, pure and holy thoughts at the time of the chuppah have a most constructive effect on their lives together as a couple — both spiritually and physically — that it truly be an “eternal edifice.”

The above is particularly significant in light of that which was mentioned above in the “Introduction to Marriage” regarding a chuppah:

The chuppah is not a mere fleeting episode in the lives of the husband and wife. Rather, it is a fundamental and all-encompassing event: at the moment of the chuppah, bride and groom form a profound and intense bond, whereby their spiritual essence, their souls, cleave to each other. This provides them with the strength and power to realize a life of peace and harmony together throughout their entire life.

It is self-understood that the particular emphasis on pure and holy thoughts during these special, precious moments is so that they impact their entire lives, which are based and depend on the chuppah.6


Thought Knows No Boundaries

The Previous Rebbe notes the following regarding the special quality of thought:7 “Thought is potent. ... It knows no bounds; no partition can stand in its way; at all times it reaches its required destination.

“Thought knows no distance — one feels another although they may be physically far apart, for thought is a profoundly deep form of connection. When one thinks of another, the other feels his thoughts as if they were standing next to each other and facing each other.

“Moreover, thinking produces results that extend into the realm of action. Although thought is the first and most refined of the three soul garments — the garment that is united with the soul — it has an effect on and reaches the realm of action. Concentrating on a good thought concerning another assists the other greatly not only spiritually, but materially as well.

“R. Pinchas of Koretz writes to R. Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch:

“‘Many thanks for having called me to mind on Yom Kippur. You should know that at the very moment I was privileged to be thus remembered, I felt it here.’”


Thoughts of Those Attending the Chuppah

The same is true regarding the thoughts at the time of the chuppah:

At the time of the chuppah, one should make a concentrated effort to think only holy and pure thoughts, for these thoughts affect one’s entire life.

The same is true with regard to those assembled at the chuppah. They, too, should think holy and pure thoughts at the time of the chuppah; for since one’s thoughts benefit the other, the good thoughts of those assembled will assist bride and groom in their blessed construction of an “everlasting edifice.”