KETUBBOT MARRIAGE CONTRACTS

Marriage is one of the most important mitzvot (commandments) in Judaism, and the Scriptures are replete with verses encouraging the union of man and woman. One of the essential elements of a Jewish wedding ceremony is the writing and transfer of a contract, or ketubbah (plural ketubbot). Originally formulated to protect a woman's rights in marriage, the ketubbah established the financial obligations of the groom toward his bride in cases of divorce or death. This book presents forty ketubbot dating from 1614 to 1989 from the collection of The Jewish Museum in New York City. Originating in Italy, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, the Sephardi communities of Germany and Holland, and the United States, these intricately illuminated marriage contracts are unique historical documents as well as beautiful works of art.