Ketubah recording the marriage of the prominent groom R. Avraham Philosoph, and the bride Joya daughter of R. Rafael Moshe HaKohen. Jerusalem, 13 Sivan 1879.
Ink and paint on paper.
Colorful ketubah, typical of 19th century decorated ketubot from Eretz Israel. Set in a floral border divided into two: the upper border is formed as a horseshoe arch and contains flowers, stars and a large vase of flowers; the lower border contains the ketubah text and verses of blessings in gold and maroon, with two additional small floral bouquets. Witnesses' calligraphic signatures at the foot of the ketubah: "Shlomo son of R. Avraham (right) and David son of Gij (left). Groom's signature in the center.
The groom – R. Avraham Philosoph (1864-1940) – later known as a leading rabbi of Jerusalem. Born in Larissa (close to Salonika, Greece), he immigrated with his parents to Jerusalem as an infant. He studied Torah under the Torah scholars of Jerusalem, in particular R. Baruch Pinto (a relative of his wife). He studied kabbalah under R. Yitzchak Shrem, and was amongst the kabbalists of the Beit El yeshiva. In 1897, he was appointed dayan in the Beit Din of R. Yaakov Shimon Matalon, together with his teacher R. Yitzchak Shrem. He became a member of the chief rabbinate upon its foundation in 1921, together with R. Tzvi Pesach Frank, and in 1926, he was appointed head of the Sephardi Beit Din. He held public positions and was a leader of the Sephardic community in Jerusalem.
Interestingly, the book Yehudei HaMizrach by M.D. Gaon (p. 551) records that the wedding of R. Avraham and his wife Joya daughter of R. Rafael Moshe HaKohen took place in Sivan 1881; the present ketubah verifies however that the wedding was actually held in Sivan 1879.

76X54 cm. Fair-good condition. Folding marks, stains and creases. Tears along folds, slightly affecting text and illustrations, repaired in part.

Provenance:
* Kedem, Jerusalem, auction 33, 28 August 2013, lot no. 25.
* The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 035.011.268.
The ketubah is documented on the Center for Jewish Art (CJA) website, item no. 48870.