Photo courtesy of valozhin.by
MINSK, 1 February (BelTA) – An ancient Jewish ceremony, the signing of the marriage contract, known as the ketubah, took place at the Volozhin Yeshiva. The ketubah was signed by a married couple from Minsk, Eyal and Abigail, BelTA has learned.
For the first time in modern Belarus, and in Volozhin in particular, where the Yeshiva was reopened after a major reconstruction in 2024, the traditional Jewish ritual of signing the ketubah, one of the most important parts of the wedding ceremony, was performed.
“I was personally involved in the reconstruction of the Volozhin Yeshiva, which was completed thanks to the support of the local authorities in 2024. As this site has become increasingly popular with tourists, we wanted to enrich it with meaningful activities, including life-cycle rituals. We have already hosted the first coming-of-age ceremonies here, and then I suggested to one couple that they sign a marriage contract, the ketubah,” said Grigory Abramovich, Chief Rabbi of the Religious Association of the Progressive Judaism Communities in the Republic of Belarus.
The couple from Minsk, Eyal and Abigail, parents of many children, came to Volozhin for their special ceremony. Their marriage had already been legally recognized by the state, but it took them years to reach the moment when they signed the ketubah, a symbol of their spiritual kinship.
“For us it is a great honor and incredible fortune that the signing of the ketubah took place in such a sacred place as the Volozhin Yeshiva. Every brick and every element here carries echoes of past eras, which gave the ceremony a special significance. We have come a long way to reach this point. It was not an easy decision, and it carries a great responsibility,” Abigail said, noting that this was their first visit to Volozhin.
“We hope the strength and beauty of this land will protect our family,” she added.
Eyal shared that the couple prepared traditional Jewish costumes especially for the ceremony. They performed a dance as newly consecrated spouses before the Almighty accompanied by a musical ensemble.
“We are very grateful to our government and the state for supporting families, including larger ones. We feel comfortable living here and raising children,” Eyal noted.
Grigory Abramovich emphasized that holding the ketubah ceremony is one of the factors in strengthening the traditional family, as well as a condition for developing religious tourism. Nowadays, the Volozhin Yeshiva attracts visitors from different parts of the world.
“Signing the ketubah has not yet become a tradition: time is needed for that. But I am increasingly convinced that Volozhin will become a place that draws tourists, including for life-cycle rituals. Its excellent infrastructure makes it possible to hold a full wedding ceremony here,” he said.
Photos courtesy of valozhin.by
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