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So How Old Are Ketubahs, Really?

Author: Azuolay Ketubah
by Azuolay Ketubah
Posted: Jun 25, 2018

So How Old Are Ketubahs, Really?

To give you some context, the Ketubah is essentially the original prenuptial agreement. Its main function has always been to protect a woman’s basic physical rights, including shelter, clothing, and children. The Ketubah also lays down the financial responsibility a husband has to his wife in the case of death or divorce.

The first mention of a Jewish wedding involving any sort of legal contract is in the book of Tobit circa third or fourth century BCE. Tobit recounts that he asked his bride Edna to bring him a tablet, on which he wrote the legal terms of their marriage in front of witnesses and then had it sealed.

How Long Have We Been Decorating Ketubahs, and in What Styles?

Israel and Egypt are the source of the first illuminated Ketubahs from the 10th to the 12th centuries. On the other hand, Italy is home to the first papercut Ketubahs that we see today, dated to just 200 years ago.

Ketubahs have always reflected the styles of the day and region. From the European and Russian communities, to those in the Ottoman Empire and the East, the artistic flare of Ketubahs from those times varied, save for a few symbolic elements all Ketubahs seemed to share.

These symbols were largely Biblically-inspired, with depictions of Menorahs, flowers and trees that grow in Israel, and scenes from Jerusalem. The endless knot was also popular, signifying a couple’s endless love for each other, as were the zodiac signs.

The level of artistic talent that was poured onto the pages of Ketubahs throughout the centuries show just how central the marriage contract is to Jewish life. It’s actually considered praiseworthy in Judaism to not only keep Torah commandments, but to do so with grandeur and royalty, beautifying the tools for carrying out the commandments where possible.

Papercut Ketubah - Bringing an Old Artform Back to Life

Ketubahs have almost always been gorgeously decorated documents, if not downright works of art. Interestingly enough, though, papercut Ketuba are a rare find.

For the past 20 years, papercut Ketubahs have finally had their reign in the forefront of Jewish art, and in the center of Jewish married life. Modern technologies allow artist like well-known artist Danny Azoulay to laser cut their artwork. Azoulay creates Ketubahs with impossibly-intricate designs, that have become the center or Jewish married life for thousands of couples today.

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Author: Azuolay Ketubah

Azuolay Ketubah

Member since: Apr 11, 2018
Published articles: 2

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