The priceless bride
Posted
Friday, August 17, 2007 1:09 AM
Today I found out I'm worth 100 goats. I wasn't sure if I should be flattered or insulted. I mean, you can do a lot with a goat: eat, drink, stay warm, get a new friend. I've heard a woman of valor is worth a price more than rubies -- but more than a goat?
I uncovered this tidbit while ordering our ketubbah (marriage contract). We're using the traditional Aramaic with a modern English translation. I sent the ketubbah text to my mother so my zayde could take a look at it. The Aramaic says the bride is worth 200 silver zuzim. Every year at Passover we sing the song "Chad Gad Ya" (Only one kid), which my father bought for two zuzim. After I pointed this out to my mother, she started singing the song -- yeah, like this whole thing wasn't weird enough!
So, for the same price, you can get one bride or 100 goats. I can't imagine anything less romantic in a wedding contact than putting the value of the love of your life at 200 zuzim.
Getting married in L.A.: $30,000; finding out that you, as a Jewish bride, are worth 200 zuzim: priceless
Sometimes I think there are things in life better left untranslated. 
Posted by
Shoshie
Filed under: Ketubbah