A ketubah was a radical Jewish document in ancient times, giving the wife important legal protection. It was a legal document, neither beautiful nor romantic, and the traditional language of the ketubah has remained basically unchanged for centuries. In essence, the ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract.
In traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies the Groom signs the ketubah in a separate room, in the presence of witnesses and the Rabbi, prior to the start of the wedding. The bride does not sign it, because the ketubah belongs to her alone, according to Jewish law, as proof of her rights and the groom’s responsibilities.
Ketubot in Contemporary Times
Traditional ketubot do not necessarily reflect the realities of modern marriages or contemporary views on relationships. Many couples have found new ketubot, or have written their own ketubah text that is more egalitarian. Many ketubot now include parallel declarations of commitments made by both bride and groom with a joint declaration of faith in G-d and a connection to the Jewish people. The ketubah can be a way to remind the couple of their moral responsibilities to one other.
Today there are thousands of ketubot available from a huge pool of ketubah artists from around the world, as well as many sources of published ketubah texts. Most artists offer their ketubot with 4-20 text options. Couples have a vast array of choices to make in order to customize the ketubah text to reflect their particular values. A couple should always confer with their rabbi before deciding on which ketubah text to choose, and certainly before any artwork is ordered.
The Legalities of Ketubahs
Since ketubahs are considered a religious legal document, not all rabbis will accept all texts. Moreover, only Orthodox and Conservative texts are recognized in the State of Israel. Ketubahs come in different texts depending on the Jewish denomination i.e. Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, etc. This is why when ordering ketubahs it is important to consult with your rabbi in advance.
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