Why did Cameron Diaz’s wedding upset some Jews?

By Alison Lesley --
13 Jan 2015 --

Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden get married in Jewish wedding confusing and upsetting many faithful as the couple is not Jewish.

Cameron Diaz now has a new husband. The famous actress and Benji Madden got married in a traditional Jewish ceremony in her home in Beverly Hills. Madden is the former guitarist for Good Charlotte.

Diaz and Madden are drawing fire from the Jewish community over their use of Jewish traditions such as hearty cries of “mazel tov,” a crushed glass and the Yichud ritual, where the newlyweds are allowed to share a few private moments together following their vows. Many in the Jewish community have been outraged over the pair’s wedding because neither seems to have any Jewish ancestry or any interest in the religion beyond their wedding rituals.

There have been some notable celebrities who have converted to, or become interested in, Judaism or Kabbalah, including both Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. However, that does not seem to be the case for Cameron Diaz and her new husband. Instead, it seems as though there may be some push to begin seeing Jewish wedding traditions as a chic statement of cultural values. Jewish traditions are, perhaps, the latest trend.

Some have accused Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden of not taking the customs seriously, and there are issues concerning Jewish law and the use of the name of Hashem during the seven ritual blessings that take place around the chuppah. However, many moderate Jews are not terribly concerned about whether or not “goyim” are borrowing Jewish wedding themes. They do not believe it takes anything away from traditional Jewish weddings. More moderate Jews are put off by the outrage over Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden’s wedding and do not understand the motivation behind the anger.