Kest: Its History and Significance

Abstract: Kest made early marriage possible for the Ashkenazi Jewish elite and had a significant impact on the role of women where it was practiced. It was standard in Ashkenazi Jewish society for centuries. This was not an accident. It was part of the “toolbox” of a community that developed creative responses to challenges in its environment. This is despite the fact that it was the total opposite to many of the characteristics of ancient Judaism. Nonetheless, it was regarded as one more element of Jewish tradition. Ultimately, it was abandoned, but the tradition of kest, at least in the use of the term, lives on.