Artifact Citation: Bentcher

Dear EE,

Reading page 138 - 139 of EE, I was hoping for feedback on a specific type of artifact citation. A booklet, called a "bentcher" is usually distributed to the guests at a Jewish wedding reception.This bentcher usually has the Jewish Grace After Meals prayer, in Hebrew. The booklet iteslf is generic. The bentcher cover is typically unique. It contains some detail of the event and guests it home. It is common in Orthodox circles for the groom to bring a few hundred to the wedding program (see http://crazyjewishconvert.blogspot.com/2011/08/word-of-day-bentch.html if you want to understand more about the artifact name)

It is what I evaluate as "OPD" (the source is Original, the information is Primary and the evidence is Direct). It occurs at the time of the event and is subject to public scrutiny. I like to cite it as one of the ways to prove a marriage.

What would you think of this citation:

Bentcher (Jewish prayer booklet for Grace After Meals [Bentching]) distributed at the wedding reception of Chaya & Moishe Miller in Flushing, NY, 14 September 1987; privately owned by Moishe Miller, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Brooklyn, NY, 2019. The Bentcher has a white glossy soft cover, stamped (embossed) with silver foil letters, listing the bride, groom, wedding hall name, and Jewish date, all in Hebrew, and the civil date of the wedding, in English.

Thank you.

Submitted byEEon Sun, 01/27/2019 - 12:24

Well, done c0r8g30. As 3.25 points out, the basic format for "family artifacts" can be adaptable to a great variety of items, from wedding books to funeral programs to mass cards. Your addition of explanations for the Bentcher is excellent. It's the kind of added value that would be appreciated by non-Jewish readers of your work who are not familiar with that type of record. 

I also suspect that your contribution of this model to the Forum will be appreciated by other researchers. Thanks!