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SUITE 250 SOUTHARD, MI —0- III X '4)4, TRANSFER YOUR HOME MOVIES 8mm-16mm TO VHS CENTUR CAMEWAN 1 Film Length In Feet 8mm & Super 8 & 16 1-200 Feet $20.00 201-400 Feet $26.00 401-600 Feet $39.00 601-800 Feet $52.00 801-1000 Feet $65.00 Film Over1,X0 Feet Add A Foot (Video Tape $8.00 Additional) _} 3017 N. WOODWARD visA ROYAL OAK kips. Ca,: (3 Blocks South of 13 Mile) (just have your rabbi look it over before the wedding) into which you will add your names, or you can hire a calligrapher to write and design one just for you. The main purpose of the ke- tubah is to protect a woman. In ancient times, Jewish men were permitted to divorce their wives without their consent. Fortunately, this changed thanks to Rabbenu Gershom of Mayyence (960-1028). A lead.- ing German Jewish legal au- thority, Rabbenu Gershom instituted a number of sub- stantial halachic rulings, in- cluding one that determined that a man may not divorce a wife against her will. The ketubah, written in Ara- •-• ,x4v. s tv,it , ;,1•10. r Winter Special FREE BACKGROUND MUSIC On Any Video Transfer Century Camera 288-5444 With This Coupon. Expires 4/4/97 -J 810-288-5444 Daily & Saturday 10-6 Friday 10-8 Q: My sweetheart and I are plan- ning to wed next year, and we're in- terested in securing a ketubah. I'm embarrassed to say, though, that I don't really know what's on it. Are my future husband and I supposed to write it ourselves? What should it say? When does it have to be ready? Isn't it basically just a doc- ument listing the names of those about to get married and their fam- ilies? A: A ketubah has nothing to do with genealogy. It is, in ef- fect, a prenuptial agreement that lists a husband's financial obligations to his wife. Under Jewish law, the ke- tubah must be prepared in time for the wedding day, as a man is not permitted to live with his wife until he has given her the document. The language on the ketubah is fairly standard, though, so you don't have to worry about coming up with anything clever to say. You can purchase pre-made ketubot tents and must secure a new one. Today, ketubot used by Or- thodox couples read much as they did in talmudic times. Some Conservative and Reform newlyweds opt for the tradi- tional document, as well. How- ever, in 1953 the Conservative movement approved a new ke- tubah. In this version, the cou- ple also is obligated to a local beit din's (rabbinic court) au- thority that would compel a husband or wife to accept a get, or divorce agreement. (As op- posed to a husband skipping town or refusing to give his wife a get, which sometimes hap- pens.) Now that we have all the le- gal questions settled, let me note that one of the most interesting aspects of a ketubah can be its de- sign. Museums around the world are home to countless magnificent ke- tubot — many of which are lavishly illustrated with family coats of arms, flowers and biblical fig- ures — from throughout history. You may want to ask an artist to incorpo- rate symbols important to you and your future spouse, such as the mean- ing. of your. last name. , tet '10110 Q: Many months ago Tell Me Why was asked to iden- tify famous Jews born in Exactly what does this popular document say? Utah. I couldn't believe it (Jews — in Utah?), but you maic, specifies a husband's fi- did it! It just proved what I always nancial responsibility to his wife knew, that Tell Me Why is the most during marriage, as well as out- brilliant column ever written in the lines a sum he must pay should history of mankind. Now I would they divorce. You should dis- like to challenge you with another cuss the latter with your rabbi. Sometimes, this figure is a nom- state: Montana. Don't tell me you inal amount; years ago, how- can actually come up with a famous ever, it was a different story. In Jew born there! A: Of course I can, my friend, talmudic times, the minimum a husband was allowed to though I've managed to find a pledge was 200 zuz for a first- mere one. This was Lauretta time bride and 100 zuz for a Bender, born in 1897 in Butte. widow or divorcee. This was no She was a leading child psy: insubstantial sum, considering chiatrist who developed the the fact that a new house cost famed Bender Gestalt Test. ❑ 50 zuz. There is only one case in Send questions to Tell Me Why, which a man will not be held ac- The Jewish News, 27676 countable for all responsibili- Franklin Road, Southfield, MI ties outlined in his ketubah: if 48034, or fax to (810) 354-6069. his wife agrees to forfeit the doc- All letters must be signed and in- ument (generally in cases of di- clude the writer's address. Ques- vorce). If a couple's ketubah is tions answered in the column will lost or destroyed, the husband feature only the writer's initials remains obligated to its con- and city of residence. 'Orr, • MILE RD. BECKRD.N.,„ Q: Like many of the other more •intelligent life forms on this plan- et, I am a big fan of "Star Trek." All right, so William Shatner's... way of talking ... as Capt. Kirk ... those seemingly ... interminable pauses ... could get a little annoying. How can you deny the profound world in- fluence of a character like Mr. Spock? I am so proud he was por- trayed by Jewish actor Leonard Ni- moy. I often have admired Mr. Nimoy's Spock ears and wonder if you could tell me how many he wore during his performances on the show? A: Tragically, we'll probably never know the total number of Spock ears produced and/or worn, though of course millions want, indeed need, to know. What Tell Me Why can tell you, however, is that one pair of those pointed delights usually lasted Mr. Nimoy about two •months during the filming of the TV episodes of that famed show. Mr. Spock's ears on the movie version of Star Trek were a whole new story, though don't ask me what accounts for the difference. Here, Mr. Nimoy went through three pairs a day, and they were notorious for, of all things, melting. In fact, the temperature on the set was con- tinually kept at 70 degrees, lest the ears begin to drip.