SIVAN
Table of Contents
In
many Sephardic congregations, prior to the Torah reading on the first
day of Shavuot, a ketubbah le-Shavuot (marriage certificate for
Shavuot) is read, as a symbolic betrothal of God and His people Israel.
The terminology of this piyyut (medieval poem), in its various
versions, strongly recalls that of the traditional prenuptial document
(specifying the conditions agreed upon between the two parties; known
as tena'im) or the marriage certificate given by the bridegroom
to the bride at the wedding ceremony, known as ketubbah).
The hymns which compose this ketubbah le-Shavuot are based on
the verses: "I will betroth you unto Me forever; I will betroth
you unto Me in righteousness, and in justice, and in lovingkindness,
and in compassion. And I will betroth you unto Me in faithfulness; and
you shall know the Lord" (Hosea 2:21-22); and "I will make
a new covenant with the house of Israel" (Jeremiah 31:31).
Some
texts describe the marriage as being solemnized symbolically between
the Torah (the bride) and the people of Israel (the bridegroom). God,
as the bride's father, gives as dowry the 613 commandments, the Bible,
Talmud, and other sacred writings. Moses presents as dowry to his son
(the people of Israel) the prayer shawl and phylacteries, the Sabbath
and festivals. The contracts are witnessed by God and His servant Moses.
In other versions the "Prince of princes and the Ruler of rulers"
presents the Torah to the bride as dowry and in His love He gives her
the Oral Law as an added portion. The bride responds affectionately,"We
shall do and we shall hearken." The contract is dated the sixth
day of the month of Sivan, in the year 2448 from the creation
according to tradition the day on which the torah was given. The Mishnah*
comments that the wedding day of King Solomon (Song of Songs 3:11) refers
to the day of the giving of the Torah. The heavens and the earth witness
the marriage certificate.
The
most widely used text of a ketubbah le-Shavuot is that of the
prolific Safed mystic and poet Israel Majara (c.1550-c.1625). Many of
his piyyutim are founded in the liturgy of oriental Jews. This hymn
is included in the Sephardic prayerbook for Shavuot. Enjoy a partial
translation.
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