Obj. ID: 48905 Ketubbah, Tetuan, 1879
sub-set tree:
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.
While of an identifiable Tetuan design, using the arch, floral decoration and color scheme, this Ketubah has an almost unique feature in its decorative scheme. There are two Hamsot in the upper part of the document and in them there appear figures of a man and of a woman, probably representing the bridal couple. Such human representations are almost unknown in Moroccan Jewish art, which generally adapted itself to the strictures and strong local prohibitions of the Islamic culture, which forbid the portrayal of human figures.
The hamsa (five, as in five fingers) is an amulet shaped like a hand. The hamsa is arguably the most popular form of amulet against the Evil Eye and is used in a large number of countries. Probably originating in Moslem Spain of the 12th or 13th century, it crossed the sea to Morocco and spread across North Africa to the Middle and Far East
The wedding took place in Tetuan on Wednesday November 26, 1879 (11 Kislev 5640).
Groom: Avraham ben Shmuel ben Yitzhak ben Ya'akov Bargilon
Bride: Azibuena bat David ben Reuven ben David Benzimra