Marriage Contract. Uniting Michael ben Menashe with Ziporah, daughter of Shalom.

(KETHUBAH).

10th Sivan

Kolkash (Kulashi)

1849

Manuscript in Hebrew on shaped paper. Colorful decorative border bearing blessings wishing the couple wealth, happiness, purity and salvation. Upper portion above the text display a menorah and floral motifs with the Biblical verses “Kol Sasson Vekol Simchah” associated with the happiness of the bride and groom. Additional applied colored geometric shapes decorate the Kethubah.

The earliest recorded Kethubah from Georgia. Kulashi is a small town (daba) in the Imereti region of Georgia. Famously devoted to Eretz Israel, from the mid-19th century onwards, a series of aliyah-oriented groups of Kulashi Jews journeyed to Jerusalam, where they were known as “Gurjis,” after the Turkish name for Georgia - Gurjistan. Today, no Jews live in Kulashi due to the complete emigration of the community to Israel.