Decorated paper ketubah, for the wedding of Yehudah son of Simchah and Esther daughter of Yitzchak. "The Karaite community in Qirq Yer", Chufut-Kale, Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine, 4 Nisan 5589 [April 7, 1829].

Ink and paint on paper.

This ketubah is written on a large paper sheet, and reflects the unique customs and rite of the Karaite community of Chufut-Kale in the Crimean peninsula. The text is written in Hebrew (and not in the customary Aramaic), and divided into two parts – the ketubah on the top and the dowry on the bottom, with the signatures of no fewer than ten witnesses (the present document was signed by fifteen witnesses). The ketubah text prominently mentions "Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich I" (Tsar Nicholas I) and includes a commitment to the "covenant of Mount Sinai and the laws of Mount Horeb, to observe G-d's festivals, consecrated by observation of the moon and the presence of spring in the holy Land of Israel…".

Decorated with large flower decorations, high-quality and meticulously drawn, and a chain of golden disks in the bottom margins. The green frames separating the various parts of the ketubah are decorated in gold. In the outer frame, center and top of the ketubah appear verses of blessing in red ink (from Tehillim, Ruth and Bamidbar).

Chufut-Kale (Çufut Qale, English: Jewish Fortress) served as the center of Crimean Karaite Jewry until the end of the 19th century, when it was abandoned and became a ghost town. The city was an important location, since Crimean Jews were forbidden from living in the capital city until 1783, leading them to settle in the nearby Chufut-Kale. After the Crimean peninsula was captured by the Russian Empire and Karaites were allowed to settle throughout Crimea, the city was abandoned, becoming a ghost town in the early 20th century. Avraham Firkovich, the leader of the Eastern European Crimean community, was one of the last Karaites to live in the city.

76X54.5 cm. Overall good condition. Folding marks, slightly affecting text. Some stains, mainly to margins, slightly affecting text. Fading of gold paint. Minor tears, professionally restored. Margins professionally reinforced with acid-free paper to the back.

For further information and for comparison, see: Kedem, Auction 94, Part I (the Gross Family Collection), Lot 13; René Braginsky Collection, K54.

This ketubah is documented in the NLI Ketubot website, listing 990003035710205171.