#ketubot

Ketubot (כתובות, Jewish marriage contracts) from the Ottoman Empire and Iran, 18th–19th centuries with botanic motifs.

Other popular motifs in decorated Italian ketubbot include the signs of the zodiac and, as seen here, the emblems of the two families. The adoption of unofficial coats of arms was widespread among wealthy Italian Jews, in imitation of the practices of the local nobility Most ketubbot include a single shield, containing the insignia for both families, or just that of the groom, whose family usually commissioned the contract because he was obligated to furnish the bride-Eleonora- with a ketubboh. This example, however, features two separate emblems, possibly because the bride belonged to a family of prominent scholars, including Benjamin Segrè of Vercelli, who might have been her father. The coat of arms for the Segre family-a rampant lion facing right with a Star of David-is featured at the center of the lower border. No less distinguished was the Treves family, to which the groom-Mordecai, son of Azriel Treves- belonged. Their emblem-a rampant lion to the right of an apple tree-appears above the text at center, a prominent location, for the groom's family likely commissioned the document. Issued in Vercelli, this ketubbah differs from other extant examples from the same Piedmontese city, characterized by an arcuated shape at bottom and a floral border. Although some Italian contracts depict the bride and groom, very few represent the wedding party-shown here in lavish costumes and hairdos-or the attendant musicians. Flirtatious interactions between various couples add a picaresque note, including a distinguished man with a cane peering through his spyglass at a lady at a window, at the upper right. A later example from Pesaro, dated 1853, at the Israel Museum ('79/339), also features a gathering of musicians and elegantly dressed couples, but the figures there were cut out from printed sources, painted, and pasted onto the parchment, instead of finely rendered, as seen here. The extravagance of examples such as this one might have prompted Italian rabbis to repeatedly enact laws limiting the amount of money that could be spent on the decoration of a marriage contract. The secular nature of this ketubboh's decorative program, with figures of a musician and a young man elegantly dressed (perhaps a rendering of the groom?) in the niches often reserved for depictions of Moses and Aaron, indicates that it might have been the work of a Christian artist. Many other Italian examples, however, display a close relationship between text and image, with depictions of biblical scenes featuring heroes whose names were borne by the groom, the bride, or their fathers, with extensive use of Hebrew texts, attesting that they were decorated either by Jewish artists or by Christian makers under the strong guidance of their Jewish patrons.”

This ketubah witnesses before God and all present that on the 19th day of Cheshvan in the year 5783 in the community of [redacted] the holy covenant of marriage was entered into between the bride, [redacted], and the groom, [redacted]. Surrounded by family and friends, we affirm our commitment to each other as husband and wife. Our lives are now forever intertwined. Our similarities will bind us, our differences will enrich us, and our love will define us. We will celebrate all of the passages of life together with joy and reverence. In times of happiness we will cherish each other, and in times of trouble we will protect each other. Together, we will create a home where both of our traditions are celebrated with honor, and where the values of our families are nurtured and passed on. We willingly enter into this covenant of companionship and love: from this day forward, we are as one.

Ketubot 28b

What games do I need for this?: You just need the base game for this re-coloration :)

Mazal tov to Y and N on their first week of married life! Y's family is from Isfahan so they requested a ketubbah inspired by this 250-year-old example, but with more vibrant colours. 💖🎨💕 How did I do? 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽Shabbat shalom!

Papercut Ketubah - Dancing Squares - A3 - Modern and Contemporary Design - Orthodox RCA ketubah text. More designs at www.papercutsbyoren.com

Red and light blue colored floral illumination surrounds the text. In the center above the text there is a large cypress tree with two lions with a rising sun behind them on either side of the tree, and with two birds above. There is a scalloped arch on the top of the document and two smaller arches framing the text. The frame of the document contains blessings for the bride and the groom. The text concludes with the tosefet (addenda) in which the groom adds to his financial commitments to the bride, written in Judeo-Persian. x