Obj. ID: 55036
  Sacred and Ritual  Beit ha-Kenneset Stepney Orthodox, London, 1924

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

A Ketubah (Hebrew: כְּתוּבָּה ; "written thing"; pl. Ketubot) is a special type of Jewish prenuptial agreement. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. The content of the Ketubah is in essence a one-way contract that formalizes the various requirements by Halacha (Jewish law) of a Jewish husband vis à vis his wife. The Jewish husband takes upon himself in the Ketubah the obligation that he will provide to his wife three major things: clothing, food and conjugal relations, and also that he will pay her a pre-specified amount of cash in the case of a divorce. Thus the content of the Ketubah essentially dictates security and protection for the woman, and her rights in the marriage.

This document is signed and then given to the bride as her property. In Italy and most of the Islamic countries in which Jews resided, such a Ketubah was often decorated, a tradition originating with the Jews in Spain. Today, generally, printed Ketubot are used.

This Ketubah is very similar in design to two other printed Ketubot from London in the Gross Family Collection.  All of them are reminiscent of early printed Ketubot from Amsterdam. There is English text on the back of the Hebrew and Aramaic side. The wedding took place on 28 Shevat 5684 (February 3, 1924).

Bride:                                Fanny Rackovsky

Groom:                             Samuel Harris Rackovsky