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Tena'im Text

The Engagement Contract

There are several traditional tna'im forms. The following is the text used at Chabad weddings.

בעזה"י

למז"ט יעלה ויצמח כגן רטוב מצא אשה מצא טוב ויפק רצון מה' הטוב

אלו הן ראשי הפרקים בעזר שוכן שחקים שנדברו והותנו בין הני שני הצדדים היינו מצד האחד הנכבד והמפורסם כו' וכו' ... העומד מצד ... החתן

ומצד השני הנכבד והמפורסם כו' וכו' ... העומד מצד ... הכלה המהוללה

ראשית דבר הרי הוא החתן הנ"ל ישא למזל טוב את הכלה הנ"ל בחופה וקדושין כדת משה וישראל ואל יבריחו ואל יעלימו לא זה מזו ולא זו מזה וישלטו בנכסיהון שוה בשוה וידורו ביניהם באהבה וחיבה כאורח כל ארעא.

הרי הוא הנכבד והמפורסם כו' וכו' ... הנ"ל העומד מצד . . החתן הנ"ל התחייב את עצמו ליתן מתנות ... החתן הנ"ל מתנות להכלה הנ"ל ובגדים ... החתן הנ"ל כמנהג הנגידים המפורסמים.

הרי הוא הנכבד והמפורסם כו' וכו' ... הנ"ל העומד מצד ... הכלה הנ"ל התחייב את עצמו ליתן נדן ... הכלה הנ"ל מתנות להחתן הנ"ל ובגדים ... הכלה הנ"ל כמנהג הנגידים המפורסמים.

החתונה תהית אי"ה בשעה טובה ומוצלחת בזמן ומקום כפי שיתרצו שני הצדדים בירושלים עיר הקודש תבנה ותכונן רב חזן שמש וכלי זמר לחצאין מטה מוצעתת צעיפים ורדידים טלית וקיטל כנהוג. ומחמת כו'

ערב קבלן מצד החתן ...

ערב קבלן מצד הכלה ...

והצדדים הנ"ל מחוייבים לפצות את הערבים הקבלנים הנ"ל שלא יגיע להם שום היזק וגרם היזק ... מן הצדדים ומן הערבים קבלנים ומן החתן וכלה הנ"ל על כל הא דכתוב ומפורש לעיל במנא דכשר למקניא בי' הכל שריר וקיים.

וכהנ"ל נעשה בתקיעת כף ובקנין גמור אגב סודר ובכל אופן היותר מועיל עפ"י דת תורתינו הקדושה כמנהג וכתוקף תנאים ראשונים דנהיגן בישראל. בפנינו עדים הח"מ

היום יום ... ליצירה

ובאנו על החתום יום הנ"ל שנה הנ"ל פה ...

נאום ...

נאום ...

English Translation:

To good fortune. May [this match] flourish and grow like a verdant garden. He who finds a wife finds good, and draws favor from the G‑d who is good.

With the help of the One who dwells in the heavens, this is the outline [of the agreements] which were discussed and agreed upon between these two parties. On one side the venerable and eminent etc. etc. [...], who is on the side of [...], the groom.

On the other side, the venerable and eminent etc. etc. [...], who is on the side of [...], the bride.

Firstly, the aforementioned groom will marry the aforementioned bride, in good fortune, with a chupah and kiddushin according to the law of Moses and Israel. They will not flee nor hide one from the other. They will exert equal control over their property and will dwell together with love and affection as is the societal norm.

The aforementioned venerable and eminent etc. etc. [...], who is on the side of [...] the groom, obligates himself to give the gifts [due to] [...] the aforementioned groom, gifts to the aforementioned bride, and clothing [due to] [...] the aforementioned groom -- as is the custom among renowned affluent individuals.

The aforementioned venerable and eminent etc. etc. [...], who is on the side of [...] the bride, obligates himself to give the dowry [due to] [...] the aforementioned bride, gifts to the aforementioned groom, and clothing [due to] [...] the aforementioned bride -- as is the custom among renowned affluent individuals.

The wedding will take place G‑d willing, in a good and auspicious time, in the time and place upon which the two parties will agree, in the Holy City of Jerusalem, may it soon be rebuilt and established.1 The [costs of the] officiating rabbi, cantor, attendant, and music will be divided evenly. Beds and their coverings, handkerchiefs, veils, tallit, and kittel [will be given to the bride and groom] as is customary.

And in the event etc.2

Guarantor for the groom's party: [...]

Guarantor for the bride's party: [...]

The aforementioned parties are required to reimburse the aforementioned guarantors to ensure that no financial harm, or cause of financial harm, should befall them. A transaction [to obligate themselves in the aforementioned agreements] has been secured from the aforementioned parties, guarantors, bride and groom -- on all that has been written and specified above -- with an article which is valid to secure transactions. And all is valid and confirmed.

All the above was performed with [the parties'] solemn word, and an absolute transaction done via a garment, and in any manner which would be most beneficial according to the laws and customs of our holy Torah; and invested with the power of the earliest "conditions" which have been practiced among Israel.

This all [was done] before us, the witnesses signed below.

Today is [...] since creation.

And we affix our signature on the aforementioned date in the aforementioned year, here in [...]

These are the words of [witness's signature]

These are the words of [witness's signature]


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FOOTNOTES
1.

This clause expresses the hope and trust that the Messiah will arrive before the date of the upcoming wedding, and return all Jews to their homeland.

2.

This is a reference to an ordinance instituted in ancient German Jewish communities. In the event that the newlywed bride or groom dies childless within the first year of marriage, all the presents given by the groom to the bride revert to his heirs, and vice versa. This tragic prospect is alluded to, but not expressly mentioned, in this document.


Text courtesy of Kehot Publication Society

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 Kehot Publication Society and Merkos Publications, the publishing divisions of the Lubavitch movement have brought Torah education to nearly every Jewish community in the world. More than 100,000,000 volumes have been disseminated to date in over 12 languages, both for newcomer as well as for those well versed in Torah knowledge.

See Also
The Witnesses
Tnai'm -- Engagement Agreements