University of Pennsylvania, Halper 333

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Metadata

DS ID:

DS25657

Shelfmark:

Halper 333

Title:

Marriage contract of Zein, daughter of R. Aaron ha-mumḥeh (the expert)

Ketubah

Place:

Fustat

Old Cairo TGN

Date:

1080-1114?

eleventh century (dates CE) AAT

twelfth century (dates CE) AAT

Language:

Aramaic and Judeo-Arabic

Aramaic WIKIDATA

Judeo-Arabic WIKIDATA

Material:

orn. dev.; lacking right edge; losses along left edge; occasional Arabic words on verso in blank area

Physical Description:

Extent: 1 folio : orn. dev.; lacking right edge; losses along left edge; occasional Arabic words on verso in blank area

Note:

A large folio, missing from both edges. 20 lines, under a heading of standard blessings in larger letters with decorations.
The bridegroom is Mantsur Kahane ben Moses. The day, Friday, month, Marḥeshvan, and Seleucid year, 13 -, are recorded in the first line, the last two digits, and the place of issue are in the missing upper-left corner.
Mantsur gives 75 dinar and 12 zuz, including a quarter of his house (30 dinar) and her outfit (another 30). The witnesses autograph signatures: [ʻA]l[wa]n ben Nathan, Abraham ben Joseph and Japheth ben Solomon ben Ḥai.
In the center of the verso is an inscription in Judeo-Arabic, documenting the partial enactment of the ḳetubah (see Mishnah Ḳetubot VIII 9), in which Zein has collected 30 dinar from the transferal of a quarter of the estate, in Fustat.
This is written on six lines in a more cursive hand. Issued in the court of Abraham ben Nathan, Av ha-yeshiva (see the list of judges, Goitein, A Mediterranean Society, vol. II Appendix D, no. 14), and Moses ha-Levi ben David.
The autograph signature of the first witness is Tsemaḥ ha-Levi ben Jacob, the second is partially illegible and partially missing.
Abraham ben Nathan served in Fustat in the early 12th century (Mann, The Jews of Egypt, 1920. vol. 1 p. 194, vol. II pp. 231-232) and signed documents dated between 1098-1114. He signs together with the same Moses on a document in Oxford Bodleian Heb. d. 68 fol. 106 (Cowley 2836.28). A document issued by the same Moses, and witnessed by the same Tsemaḥ, is Cambridge TS 8J 4.22, dated October 1108.
The value of this ḳetubah is listed in the index of ḳetubot in S. D. Goitein, A Mediterranean Society, vol. III p. 400 no. 100.
Cairo Genizah Collection (University of Pennsylvania. Center for Advanced Judaic Studies. Library).
Cairo Genizah Collection (Dropsie College. Library).
Sulzberger.

Keyword:

Marriage

Ketubah

Jewish law

Antenuptial contracts (Jewish law)

Abraham ben Nathan, active 11th century-12th century

Marriage (Jewish law)

Prenuptial agreements (Jewish law)

Institutional Record:

https://find.library.upenn.edu/catalog/9940420113503681

IIIF Manifest:

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3h12vs2c/manifest

Holding Institution:

University of Pennsylvania