Land of Israel

The papercut frame of this ketubbah is inspired by the ritual of hava’at bikurim, the bringing of the first fruits, along with the quote, “And you will bring these fruits of the ground that you will harvest from the land” (Deuteronomy 26:2). The frame overflows with the seven species of Israel. Gazelles symbolize the grace and beauty of Israel, which is referred to as eretz ha-tzvi, the land of the gazelle (Daniel 11:16, 41). At its center, one finds Mitzpe Netofah in the Northern Galilee. The panoramic view conveys the blessing and variety of the Israeli landscape: desert, mountains, fertile plains, and rolling hills.