Obj. ID: 48907
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts Ketubbah, Rabat, 1835
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.
Usually the only place in which Moroccan Ketubot were written and painted on parchment was Essaouira. In this early example from the city of Rabat, parchment was also used. Painted in the oft-used orange and green colors on Hebrew manuscripts from Morocco, this Ketubah is the earliest recorded Ketubah from Rabat, according to those listed the JNUL library Ketubah site.
The wedding took place on Wednesday September 2, 1835 (8 Elul 5595).