This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

On Monday evening, Chaya Zippel and Rabbi Mendy Cohen were married in a traditional Jewish ceremony at the Grand America Hotel.

The Salt Lake Tribune was invited to capture a glimpse into a culture many Utahns rarely get to see.

Zippel, who was born and raised in Salt Lake City, and Cohen, of Montreal, were joined in a ceremony that's intended to re-enact the union between God and the Jewish people. This meant plenty of centuries-old traditions, including separate receiving rooms for the bride and groom (who hadn't seen each other for a week); recitations from religious texts; the stomping of a glass; and afterward, lots of singing, dancing and music.

The wedding in downtown Salt Lake City was officiated by Rabbi Benny Zippel of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, who is also the bride's father.

Fewer than 1 percent of Utah adults are Jewish, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center study. The state's predominant faith, Mormonism, claims 55 percent of the adult population, according to the study.