TIDBITS 08/05/07

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We encourage you to forward this email to friends and colleagues. ====================================== Italian Jewish Wedding Ring Behold you are consecrated unto me with this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel.

The above is the Jewish wedding vow. According to the Talmud it is required that the ring belongs to the groom and it is to be of solid metal with no gems adorning it. A simple unbroken band is used to uphold the sacredness of marriage without materialistic detractions.

This still holds true today ... but with the knowledge that once the ceremony is over and she is his and he is hers ... and the legal procedures are over ... and tradition has had its day in the sun ... well ... there are prettier rings that you can get me when money isn't so tight hunny bunny.

Ah ... but it t'weren't always so. Nay nay. Let's take a little trek back to the sixteenth and seventeenth century Venice why don't we. Jewish wedding rings were a bit more ornate back then ... and as often as not they were ornately enameled and intricately decorated with gold filigree of the highest artistic caliber.

Usually these were wide bands atop of which rested tiny--yet accurate--representations of gabled houses and/or synagogues with tall roofs and miniature gates that opened upward toward the heavens. Often these rings had carved into them the words: Mazel Tov ... which means good luck.

After the ceremony ... these rings were removed and held in safe keeping by a family member. These rings were not your stuff of every day wear folks. Like a Wedding Gown ... they were to be used once and then stored ... for use by another perhaps ... or not. But either way ... stored they were.

As it happens ... I have one to show you. Who woulda thunk it?

For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at

where you will scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says Current Tidbits ... and then click on it in order to view a 16th century gold Italian Jewish Wedding Ring.

And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all next week. Benjamin Mark

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