Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Tell Me More about the Ketubah?

The purpose of the Ketubah is to protect the woman's rights during the marriage and in case she is divorced or widowed. Historically, the Ketubah marked a great leap forward in the thinking about the rights of women.

In the liberal movements, the text of the Ketubah has been modified to be more equalitarian, and provide equal protection for both husband and wife. Some Ketubahs also include language to address the issue of husbands that refuse to provide a get, or bill of divorce, when requested by the wife.

The Ketubah, to those who elect to have one, is a link in the chain of tradition that goes back over 2000 years in time. In the Jewish tradition the Ketubah is considered a legal and binding document.

There is another way to view the Ketubah: think of it as the first prenuptual contract!

What is Ketubah Personalization?

When a ketubah is personalized, all the specifics - names, dates, parents' names, city and state of ceremony and so forth - are added by the artist in the same font that the original ketubah was written in. In some cases, some couples choose their own custom text or write their own vows which can be added to the artwork by hand.

What is a Non-Personalized Ketubah?

This kind of ketubah has all of the text and artwork but none of the information specific to the couple. Some rabbis prefer to complete the ketubah themselves on the day of the ceremony and indeed couples may prefer this tradition too. However, you should note that the calligraphy will not match throughout the ketubah.

How do I pick the right Ketubah text?

It is always a good idea to start with your Rabbi or officiant and research which kind of text is required for your ceremony. The use the internet (a great place to start is The Ketubah Company) to find out about different designs and text and think together - as a couple - about what is meaningful to you. It's that simple!