When a Jewish man marries, he automatically obligates himself to his wife in ten areas; some are Torah mandated and others dictated by rabbinic decree. A number of these obligations are mentioned specifically in the ketubah but the rest are implied:
Ketubah Obligations
- Feed his wife
- Clothe her
- Provide her conjugal needs
- His estate is obligated to pay her a lump sum if he divorces her or dies before she does
- He must, pay her medical bills if she falls ill
- Pay ransom for her if she is taken hostage
- If the wife passes away before the husband, he must pay her burial expenses
- After he dies, her children inherit their mother’s ketubah money before the rest of the estate is divided amongst all the heirs.
- In the event that the husband dies before the wife, she is entitled to live in his home and live off his estate until she dies or remarries
- Her daughters, too, are supported by his estate until they marry.
Today, the typical ketubah can range from a standard printed form to a beautiful piece of fine art with an embedded text. All ketubot have blanks for the date and the names of the bride, groom, and witnesses. Before the wedding, the officiating Rabbi fills in these blanks and supervises the signing of the document by the witnesses. Alternatively, the artist of fine art ketubot may complete the ketubah by filling in the blanks with the Rabbi’s approval.
In the event that the document is lost or destroyed, or if a serious error is found in its text, the couple must immediately obtain a replacement ketubah from a Rabbi. This rule applies for the duration of the marriage so always keep your ketubah in a safe location.
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