no. 1630. JEWISH CHREMONIALS—ADLER AND CASANOWICZ,. eat 
young student of a prominent family in Rome, named Isaac Berach- 
yah, son of Mordechai Raphael. 
After an introductory historical note the ode relates the merits and 
virtues of the family of the student, and extols the advantages of the 
study of the sacred law of God. The singing of the ode was dis- 
tributed to different voices, which are marked at the various stanzas. 
The margin contains, besides the arms of the family and some sym- 
bolical figures, the last parashah or pericope, which is read in the 
synagogue on the last Sabbath of the year, Deuteronomy, xxxiii— 
xxxiv (the blessing of Moses and the record of his death). (Plate 
XCVITI, Cat. No. 154637, U.S.N.M.) Measurements, 234 by 18 
inches. . 
134. Marriage Conrracr.—Manuscript written on parchment and 
illuminated. 
Marriage is usually preceded by an engagement or betrothal, on 
which occasion it is customary among some Jews to draw up a formal 
writ of agreement between the bride and groom, whence the ceremony 
is called tenaim, “ articles of agreement,” which set forth the stipula- 
tions preliminary to the agreement to marry. The marriage cere- 
mony takes place under a canopy (huppah) of silk or velvet about, 
two yards square, supported by four poles. The bride and bride- 
groom are led under it by their parents and friends. The rabbi, or 
anyone competent to perform the ceremony, takes a cup of wine, and 
after pronouncing an appropriate blessing, gives it to the bride and 
bridegroom to taste. The bridegroom then places a ring on the finger 
of the bride with the words: “ Behold, thou art wedded to me by this 
ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel.” This act, which is 
called sanctification or consecration (A?iddushin), in itself makes the 
marriage valid. Then the marriage contract is read. This is written 
in an Aramaic dialect after an established form usually beginning 
with the words: ‘** Under good auspices, and with good luck to bride- 
groom and bride, ‘ Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and 
obtaineth favor of the Lord.’” It states that the bridegroom agrees 
to take the bride as his lawful wife, and that he will keep, maintain, 
honor, and cherish her, etc., and also specifies the sum he settles upon 
her in case of his death. The minimum of the dowry is fixed by the 
law to be 200 zuz (about $30) for a virgin and 100 (about $15) for a 
widow or divorced woman. To this is usually added what the bride 
has received from her parents and what the husband settles on her 
voluntarily, all of which she gets in case of the death of the husband. 
or of divorce. 
After that the bridegroom crushes an empty glass with his foot 
in remembrance of the destruction of Jerusalem.* The rabbi, or 
*Compare Psalms exxxvii, 5. 
