Erusin

This holds the couple accountable to the law against adultery, which is punishable by death, while not fully considering them as married in Deuteronomy 22:23 An untraditional view[clarification needed] is that the betrothal was effected simply by purchasing the girl from her father (or guardian) (i.e., paying a bride price to the bride and her father).

[7] Rashi understands Rachel and Leah's complaint to Jacob ("we are considered strangers to him for he has sold us"[8]) as saying that it was not normal for a father to sell his daughters—at least not without also giving them a dowry.

[12] The Talmud states that there are three methods of performing erusin: by handing the woman a coin or object of nominal value, by handing her a document, or through consummation (sexual intercourse), although the last is prohibited by the Talmud because it is considered to be indecent for witnesses to watch a couple having intercourse: erusin ceremonies are to be confirmed by two witnesses.

[3][16] Today, the custom is to perform the betrothal by giving the bride a well-known and fairly constant-valued object: a gold wedding ring without a stone.

[2][17] For legal purposes, a betrothed couple are regarded as husband and wife.

Similarly, the union can only be ended by the same divorce process as married couples.