The traditional Jewish marriage certificate is called a ketuba. Arising out of 5th C b.c.e. Egyptian marriage deeds, ketubot (pl.) specify the obligations of a husband to his wife. The ketuba is a legal document originally formulated to protect a Jewish bride from financial hardship in troubled times. At 2000 years old, ketubot are among the first documents conferring legal status and financial rights to women.
In my art studio in Brooklyn’s “Dumbo” neighborhood (an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), I recently began a series of contemporary illuminated manuscripts. I made our ketuba by hand, incorporating ancient features that illustrate the different characteristics of the bride and groom (such as Ionic and Doric columns) and added modern touches like a bowl of popcorn, the our favorite snack. There are also hometown flags, and an illustrated map of places we’ve visited or dream of seeing together. The ketuba will be signed by the me, Harley, Rose Teitelbaum (my adopted Jewish Grandmother, and Mort Spiller (Harley's Father).
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