Search our Archives: » Opinion & Society The Kethubah - A Sacred
Contract By Yehuda Posnick Karl Marx in his essay, On the Jewish
Question, writes in exasperation about Judaism's mercenary
nature, "They [the Jews] even sell their own daughters in
marriage!" This comes from a prejudiced misreading of the
opening of Talmud, in the tractate of Kiddushin, which states
that "a woman is acquired in one of three ways". The renowned
commentator Rashi writes a pithy and enigmatic statement on this
excerpt: "'A woman is acquired' - to her husband." It is
explained that the acquisition here is different than any other
acquisition such as land or moveable property - once a man
acquires a woman, he can't give her to someone else. Thus the
name of the tractate is Kiddushin - which is best translated
"consecration". The transfer of money is an act that symbolizes
the start of a unique union between the bride and groom. A
similar case can be made for another appurtenance of the
marriage ceremony that also seems rather mercen