Ketubbah

Abstract

In the early stages of development of this interesting document, the term ketubbah related to the husband's obligation to reimburse his wife in case of divorce or widowhood. The ketubbah mentioned the sum of 200 zuzim which had to be paid in case the wife had been a virgin or half that in all other cases. It was considered that the sum was high enough to dissuade people from un-necessary divorces. Formulations and demands changed with the times. The first ketubbot which show signs of decoration date from the Middle Ages (10th-11th century), and were found in the Cairo geniza. They have decorations only around the introductory text, or "preamble", usually consisting of geometric or floral motifs, micrography or adornment of the letters themselves. During the Middle Ages, the text of the ketubbah was standardized. At that time, differences arose in attitudes towards the ketubbah between two groups of Jews, the Ashkenazim and the Sephardim.