A ketubbah (“writ”) is a pre-nuptual contract that specifies many of a groom’s obligations to his bride in the event of divorce or the death of the husband. Rooted in ancient traditions, the ketubbah, the purpose of which is to protect a woman’s interests, was for much of its history a genuine contract, the specifics of which could be modified for individual relationships; eventually, though, the formula of the ketubbah was standardized. Because of the importance of the wedding in Jewish tradition,  it became customary to decorate ketubbot, and these documents are often the most beautiful artistic creations of local Jewish cultures. 

This very rare printed ketubbah, used in a wedding hall in New York (1911), represents a bold commercial adaptation and Americanization of the traditional ketubbah and Jewish wedding. The Hebrew/Aramaic text is traditional, while the English certificate to the left is a severe abbreviation. Both texts, along with the steps immediately above them, have blanks to fill in essential information about the wedding. “Prof.” Hochman, an entrepreneur and, according to some reports, a charlatan, provided all the services for the wedding, including this document.  Aside from the ketubbah text and the Hebrew blessing at the top (accompanied by English and German equivalents), there is nothing traditional about this document. Instead, a symbol like the eagle emphasizes the American-ness  of the affair, which embodies the modern convenience new Americans expected.