Ketubah

By RABBI JOSEPH H. PROUSER

The Ketubah – the marriage “contract” – is customarily read aloud (in part or in its entirety) during the Jewish wedding ceremony, generally separating between the “Eirusin” (betrothal) blessings and the seven blessings of “Nissuin” (marriage). To the uninitiated, this may seem like a strangely unromantic and legalistic proceeding, as the Ketubah deals with property, dowry, and indemnities should the marriage be dissolved (by death or divorce).

In fact, the reading of the Ketubah is an expression of the exalted sanctity of the marital bond. After all, the Jewish People’s historic relationship to God is couched in “contractual” or – more precisely – covenantal terms. The document at the heart of that covenantal bond is the Torah itself. The covenantal bond of marriage signified by the Ketubah – comprises the bride and groom’s personal Scripture, their very own “Sefer Torah.” Love, not legalism. Devotion, not deposition!

The Ketubah is, thus understood, poetic in nature… love poetry of an enduring quality.

It was on this date, November 28, 1582, that William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. It was that unparalleled poet and playwright who observed: “Marriage is a matter of more worth / Than to be dealt in by attorneyship” (Henry VI, Act 5 Scene 5).

No Ketubah was read at the Shakespeare-Hathaway nuptials… but it would have made the same point.

Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the editor of “Masorti: The New Journal of Conservative Judaism.” The latest edition of Masorti was published online in December of 2024. A subscription is $18 per annum.