erusin

Erusin, from the Hebrew term erusin, refers to the betrothal stage in the traditional Jewish two-stage marriage process. In classical halakha, erusin creates a binding legal bond between a man and a woman, which, together with the subsequent stage of nissu'in, constitutes a full marriage. Once erusin has taken effect, the couple is considered married in a limited sense and are forbidden to marry others; the bond can only be dissolved by a divorce (get) or by death.

Erusin can be effected through three classical methods: kesef (money or its equivalent) given by the groom to the bride, shtar (a signed document) that states the betrothal, or bi'ah (sexual intercourse). Accepting one of these forms in the presence of witnesses completes the erusin. In many contemporary communities, the ring-and-acceptance ceremony associated with kiddushin is understood to serve as the erusin component, often followed by the second stage, nissu'in, in a separate part of the wedding or at a later time.

The practical and legal implications of erusin have varied across time and denominations. In traditional practice, the betrothal is not merely symbolic; it creates a real, halachic bond that requires a get to terminate. If the groom dies or the couple separates before nissu'in is performed, the status of the betrothal affects the spouses’ rights and possible remarriage, though interpretations can differ among communities.

See also: kiddushin, nissu'in, halakha, get.