Erusin

Erusin in the Hebrew Bible

• Introduction of the concept of erusin in the book of Deuteronomy
• Adultery is punishable by death, but the couple is not fully considered married
• Betrothal can be achieved by purchasing the girl from her father
• The bride and her father are given parts of the mohar (bride price)
• Mohar gradually lost its original meaning and was given entirely to the bride

Erusin in the Talmud

• Three methods of performing erusin: handing a coin or object, handing a document, or consummation (prohibited)
• Woman's consent is required, can be implied by her silence

The ceremony

• Erusin is preceded by a blessing over wine and the bircat erusin (betrothal blessing)
• The blessings are usually recited by someone other than the groom, such as the Rabbi
• Betrothal is performed by giving the bride a well-known object of value, like a gold ring
• The groom consecrates the bride with the ring according to the laws of Moses and Israel
• The ketubah (marriage contract) is read to separate erusin and nissuin (two parts of the wedding)

Other issues

• Betrothed couple is regarded as husband and wife for legal purposes
• The couple is not obliged to behave like a married couple or have a sexual relationship
• Marrying without an engagement (shiddukhin) is prohibited by the rabbis
• Signing a Shetar haTnaim (formal form of engagement) is a common custom
• The betrothal ceremony is read close to the start of the ceremony

Related topics

• Chuppah, a canopy under which the Jewish wedding takes place
• Jewish views on marriage
• References to the Jewish Encyclopedia articles on betrothal and marriage ceremonies
• Ketubot 57b in the Talmud
• Genesis 34:12, Exodus 22:16–17, Deuteronomy 20:7, Deuteronomy 22:29, Hosea 2:19–20 as references

Erusin - Wikipedia Data Sources