FAQ'S
KETUBAH BASICS
ABOUT OUR KETUBAH TEXTS
PERSONALIZATION PRIMER
FRAMING YOUR KETUBAH
HOW TO PROTECT & TRANSPORT YOUR KETUBAH
WHAT PEN TO USE TO SIGN THE KETUBAH
ORDERING INFO
COMPANY POLICIES
What is a ketubah?
A ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract and one of the most important and meaningful parts of your wedding ceremony. Designed by a talented artist, the document outlines marital responsibilities, while being set into a beautiful background. Your ketubah is often the first work of art you will choose as a couple, making it even more significant.
Historically, the purpose of the ketubah was to ensure that a woman’s rights were protected during the marriage, and in case she is divorced or widowed. Today, not only does the ketubah represent the vows you have made to each other, it symbolizes tradition, commitment and love. The ketubah is signed by the bride and groom and is the official contract between them. The marriage truly begins with the signing of the ketubah. It is not only an official and personal document between bride and groom, but a piece of art, displayed in your home as a reminder of your commitment to each other.
Couples can choose from countless styles of ketubah, from traditional to abstract to modern, depending on taste and wedding budget. There are also a wide variety of texts available from each artist ranging from orthodox to interfaith and humanistic to anniversary.
Your ketubah should be something you choose together and a design you both love, as it will forever represent your life together.
What decisions will we need to make when choosing our ketubah?
There are several things you will need to consider when choosing your ketubah. These include style, design, text and whether or not you wish to personalize your ketubah. If you’re having trouble, we’re here to help. We can guide you through the process, making it as easy and pleasant as possible. Have a question? Just ask one of our experts and we’ll do whatever we can to assist you.
Who signs the ketubah?
There are usually five signature lines (for the groom, the bride, two witnesses, and a Rabbi or officiant for Hebrew / English ketubahs. For Orthodox and Conservative texts there are generally two witness signature lines under the Aramaic text. If you would like know what signature lines are on the ketubah you have chosen, just ask us and we’ll confirm it for you.
Where are your ketubahs printed?
All of our ketubah designs are limited edition prints signed, numbered and provided to you by the artists. All ketubahs come directly from the artists. We do not print in house.
What do we use to sign the ketubah?
It’s best to use an acid-free, waterproof pen with an ultra-fine tip to sign your ketubah. These can be purchased at most art supply or stationary stores.
How accurate are the colours on our computer screen?
We make every effort to ensure the colours you see on our websites match the colours of your chosen ketubah, but since every computer screen is different we are not able to guarantee a precise match.
Can we change the colours of our ketubah?
Changing the colours of your chosen ketubah is considered a custom order and prices vary according to each artist. Once we know what you have in mind we can contact the artist and get an estimate for you.
What are anniversary ketubahs?
Anniversary ketubahs are a lovely way for anyone, Jewish or not, to celebrate a wedding anniversary.
An anniversary ketubah pairs an anniversary ketubah text with a design that commemorates a couple's love and commitment to each other. Get one for yourself, or they also make a wonderful gift.
How do we know what kind of text we need?
Before choosing a text it’s a good idea to consult with your officiant about his or her requirements. Above and beyond the beauty of your chosen ketubah design, the text you choose is the cornerstone of the document. The text represents the type of ceremony you are having, which in turn should correspond to your views about Judaism. Be sure to discuss this with your offiant to ensure you are comfortable with the text that appears on your ketubah. Remember that not all ketubahs offer all texts.
What kind of texts are there?
You can choose from a variety of texts to suit your needs. These include the following:
(Note - not all texts are offered by all artists.)
- Orthodox with no English: The traditional Aramaic or Orthodox text is a legal document written for the bride's protection and outlines the financial responsibility of the groom both in the marriage and in the event of divorce or death. It is the original ketubah text and has remained unchanged for hundreds of years.
- Orthodox with English: This text contains the traditional Aramaic, but also includes an English portion. This English text is not a translation, but an addition which outlines the details of the wedding (names, location, date, etc.) in English.
- Conservative with Lieberman Clause with English: Identical to the Orthodox text, this version adds the Lieberman Clause at the end of the Aramaic, which states that the groom promises to give the bride a Jewish divorce (get) if she requests one. Introduced in the 1950’s the Lieberman Clause was an important step in ensuring a man could not refuse to grant his wife a get. In the past, women who did not receive a get from their husbands were not legally divorced in the eyes of the Jewish court and were forbidden to remarry.
- Conservative with Lieberman Clause with no English: Same as above with no English.
- Reform: Written in Modern Hebrew and English this text usually focuses on the love, honour and support the couple agrees to give each other through marriage.
- Alternative Reform: Similar to the above, Alternative Reform texts are written in modern Hebrew and English, with the English text being an exact translation of the Hebrew. These texts are also gender neutral making them appropriate for same-sex marriages or commitment ceremonies.
- Interfaith: These texts are designed to suit interfaith couples and usually talk about love and building a home together that will be respectful of both backgrounds.
- Anniversary: An anniversary ketubah is a great way to honour your parents, grandparents or other special loved one. These texts usually talk about a shared life, and honour years of commitment, love and happiness.
- Sephardic: This is the text required by most wedding officiates who are affiliated with the Sephardic movement.
- French: French text of your choosing. (offered with select ketubahs)
- Toronto Reform: Toronto Reform texts are written in modern Hebrew and English, with the English being an exact translation of the Hebrew. It is the text required by many Reform rabbis in the Toronto area, but can also be used in Reform ceremonies elsewhere.
- Secular Humanistic: This text is required by the Association of Humanistic Rabbis and the Leadership Conference of Secular and Humanistic Jews. It is suitable for a marriage in which one of the partners is not Jewish.
- English vows/non-denominational English only: This text is not affiliated with any specific religion.
- Humanist English vows: In the Humanist tradition, this text focuses on a couple's relationship and the fact that they are making a public announcement of their commitment to be married.
- Commitment vows: These texts are gender neutral and therefore fitting for same-sex marriages or commitment ceremonies.
Can we see the English translations for the Aramaic text and Lieberman Clause?
Below is the English translation of the traditional Aramaic Orthodox text:
On the __________ day of the week, the __________ day of the month of __________, in the year five thousand seven hundred __________, as we reckon time here in ________________, the groom ____________ son of _____________ said to the bride_______________ daughter of _____________, "Be my wife according to the statutes of Moses and Israel. And I will work for, esteem, feed and support you as is the custom of Jewish men who work for, esteem, feed and support their wives faithfully. And I will give you ________________ and I will provide you food and clothing and necessities and your conjugal rights according to accepted custom." And the bride ________________ agreed to become his wife. And this dowry that she brought from her _____________ house, whether in silver, gold, jewelry, clothing, furnishings or bedding, the groom ______________ accepted responsibility for all in the sum of _____________ zuzim, and agreed to add to this amount from his own assets the sum of ______________ zuzim, for a total of _______________ zuzim. The groom ____________ said: "The obligation of this ketubah, this dowry and this additional sum, I accept upon myself and my heirs after me, to be paid from all the best part of all my property that I now possess or may hereafter acquire, real and personal. From this day forward, all my property, even the shirt on my back, shall be mortgaged and liened for the payment of this ketubah, dowry and additional sum, whether during my lifetime or thereafter." The obligation of this ketubah, this dowry and this additional sum, was accepted by ______________ the groom with the strictness established for ketubot and additional sums customary for the daughters of Israel, in accordance with the decrees by our sages, of blessed memory. This ketubah is not to be regarded as a formality or as a perfunctory legal form. We have established the acceptance on the part of ______________ son of ______________ the groom to _______________ daughter of _______________ the bride, of this contract, all of which is stated and specified above, with an article fit for that purpose. And all shall be valid and binding.
___________________________________________ Witness
___________________________________________ Witness
Below is the English translation of the Lieberman Clause:
And both together agreed that if this marriage shall ever be dissolved under civil law, then either husband or wife may invoke the authority of the Beth Din of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America or its duly authorized representatives, to decide what action by either spouse is then appropriate under Jewish matrimonial law; and if either spouse shall fail to honor the demand of the other or to carry out the decision of the Beth Din or its representative, then the other spouse may invoke any and all remedies available in civil law and equity to enforce compliance with the Beth Din's decision and this solemn obligation.
What if I want to write my own text?
Some couples choose to write their own text. If this is something you are interested in doing we offer Hebrew/English translations and custom calligraphy services as well as advice for those who want to write their own ketubah text.
What if the design we like doesn’t come with the text we need?
Not all texts are available with every ketubah design. If you choose a design that doesn’t come with your desired text, please consult with our experts on how best to proceed. Keep in mind that in order to accommodate such an order, cost will vary depending on the artist and method of production.
What if we have our own English wording but don’t know Hebrew? Can you translate?
We are happy to translate your English wording into Hebrew.
How do we send you our custom text?
The easiest way to send us your custom text is to email it to us as a Word document.
What is ketubah personalization?
Every ketubah contains blank spaces that have to be filled in to complete the document. In some cases the ketubah is completed by the rabbi or officiate, though most couples prefer to have their wedding details, in Hebrew and English (names, parents names, wedding date, wedding location), filled in by the artist in a similar calligraphy style as the ketubah. Whenever possible, we have the original artist do the personalization of the ketubah to ensure a close match and flow of texts. Having your ketubah personalized by the artist ensures that you will have a beautiful and integrated piece of art to cherish forever. A personalized ketubah can also be modified in other ways such as increasing the number of signature lines or inserting other information. There is an extra charge of $75 for personalized ketubahs, and delivery takes between 3-8 weeks, although rush orders can be filled.
What is a non-personalized ketubah?
You have the option of purchasing your ketubah blank and having a local calligrapher or your Rabbi fill in the blank spaces. Ketubahs that are not personalized are usually received within 10 days, and rush orders can be accommodated.
How do we submit our personalization information?
You can either fill out our online form or print out the form and fax it to us.
If one of us isn’t Jewish, what name do we use in the Hebrew text?
Not to worry. We will transliterate the name for you. This means writing the English name in Hebrew letters.
Are our parents names included on the ketubah?
Your parent’s names are included on your ketubah in either Hebrew or English, depending on the text and design you have chosen. If your parent’s names will be listed in Hebrew and you are unsure of their Hebrew names, we can transliterate them for you.
Protecting Your Ketubah
Our ketubahs have been created with the finest materials available. A few simple precautions will insure that their quality will be maintained throughout the years.
PROPER FRAMING will provide a dry and dust-free environment to protect your art; most professional framers will comply with these requests:
1) All materials that touch artwork should be ACID FREE (100% rag, museum or archival quality.) This includes the top and back mats, and any tape or adhesives.
2) Glass should not touch the artwork. A top mat (4 ply), or the use of a shadowbox frame will be sufficient to lift the glass.
3) When using a top mat, we recommend leaving a minimum of 1/4” border around the image. Keep the mat borders to approximately 3” all around; a larger border on the bottom of the image is acceptable.
It is preferable to keep all artwork out of direct sunlight.
By following these suggestions you should enjoy your original creation for many years to come.
WHAT PEN TO USE WHEN SIGNING THE KETUBAH
The type of pen most recommended for ketubah signing is an archival pigment ink pen. These can be found in any art or framing store, or online. Here are 2 examples:
- Zig Milennium Pigment Pen (Size .05, Color Black)
- Sakura Pigment Pen (Size 02, Color Black)
A good quality ball-point pen will also work. It’s a good idea to always test your pen first on the bottom-most edge of the ketubah, in a area that will be hidden by framing or that can be trimmed before it is framed. The ink should not run, bleed or smudge easily.
Never use felt-tipped pen (such as a Sharpie) as it will bleed into the paper.
HOW TO PROTECT & TRANSPORT YOUR KETUBAH
Caring For Your Ketubah
Many couples ask us how we recommend they protect & transport their ketubah from the time they receive it until the time they have it framed.
Here is what we recommend at our gallery in Toronto. Any reputable framer or handy person can do this. All materials are available at any art supply or craft store.
We recommend that you make a “Ketubah Sandwich” using 2 pieces of foam core, some tape and old fashioned picture corners. Never allow anyone to temporarily mount your ketubah using tape or glue.
Carefully cut 2 pieces of foam core to be about 4 inches larger than your ketubah on all sides. For example, if the ketubah measures 15”x25”, the foam core should be 23”x33”.
Next, using old fashioned photo corners which you can buy at any art supply store or crafts store, attach the ketubah to one piece of foam core. You do this by sticking the corners on the foam core so that the ketubah corners can slip into them.
Carefully lay the second piece of foam core over the ketubah (making a ketubah sandwich) and tape the 2 pieces of foam core together at the top. A second small piece of tape at the bottom will secure the 2 pieces of foam core.
Your ketubah is now safe to transport and display. Simply remove the tape at the bottom and flip the top piece of foam core over. You can sign the ketubah as is…(just don’t press too hard) and put it on an easel for display during the wedding party.
Just put the top piece back in place and re tape to take it home.
We charge $39 at our gallery to do this which we rebate in full if you bring in the ketubah for framing. Most framers will match this deal.
If you have a question…please contact us.
How do I order my ketubah?
You can place your order online or over the phone. You will be assigned a ketubah expert who will guide you through the entire process. Once you decide on a ketubah, please print and fax us our personalization form to have your ketubah personalized for you. We can assist you to transliterate all the information and Jewish date. If you are getting married by an Orthodox or Conservative Rabbi, we recommend that you print the personalized form and have your Rabbi fill in the Hebrew part and fax it back to the number provided on the form.
How can we check on the status of our order?
Simply email us or call our toll-free number and we can let you know. Once your order is shipped we will provide you with the tracking number.
Why buy a ketubah from us?
There are many reasons you should buy your ketubah from us, least of all being our personalized, friendly service. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and do everything we can to ensure you end up with a ketubah that best represents your union, on time and on budget. We are one of the most experienced ketubah galleries in the world, having supplied thousands of ketubahs and trusted online service since 1996. We have over 350 beautiful ketubahs on display which means there is something for every taste and budget.
What are our payment options?
We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. You can also use your PayPal account or pay by check or money order, but checks must clear before we can process your order.
Will there be any additional taxes added to our order?
We make every effort to ensure no taxes or duties are added to ketubahs shipped outside their country of origin, but taxes vary so your ketubah may attract taxes we have no control over.
How long will it take to receive our ketubah?
It depends on what type of ketubah you’ve ordered. If you’ve ordered a non-personalized ketubah, you should receive it within 10 days. Personalized ketubahs may take anywhere from 3-4 weeks, Almost every ketubah can be rush ordered and received in as little as 4-7 days (rush fees and rush shipping will apply). If you need your ketubah fast...call us toll free at 888-884-3004.
Can I order a ketubah as a gift for someone else?
Absolutely! A fine art wedding certificate makes a unique and special gift for anyone, Jewish or not. The process is the same as if you were ordering a Ketubah for yourself. Just remember to get the personalization information from the couple and send the form back into us if you are purchasing a personalized ketubah. Alternatively you can contact us to purchase a Jessy Judaica gift certificate.
Can I enclose a gift message with a ketubah order?
Including a gift message with a ketubah order is a nice idea. If this is something you’d like to do, simply email us the message as a Word document and we will include it with your order.
Can orders be cancelled?
All ketubah orders are custom and may be personalized, However, if you contact us before the order is in production it can be cancelled and may be subject to a service fee. If the order is being or has been produced it cannot be cancelled.
What about customs duties?
We do everything possible to minimize taxes and duties. Many orders are tax exempt as they are being sold outside the country. However, duties are subject to the vagaries of the customs establishment and vary country to country. We do our best to avoid them but cannot be held responsible if you are charged duties by your country. Usually these are small clearance fees.
What is your return policy?
Ketubahs or other items ordered with personalization or customization cannot be returned.
Non-personalized Items: If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, we will be happy to accept a return within 10 days. Should you need to return an item, please contact us first to make arrangements. Return shipping charges are the purchaser's responsibility, as is damage or loss that may occur in transit. Any item sent for return should be insured. Once the item has been received in its original condition, we will reimburse you for the full amount paid for the order, minus any outbound shipping charges and service fees. Refunds without prior clearance with Customer Service will not be issued so be sure to contact us to receive authorization before returning any item.
Ketubahs will be personalized as per the information on the customer invoice. Once the invoice is approved by the customer it will become the reference for any dispute re colour, customization, shipping address, price, due date, etc.
Ketubahs will be customized based on the customer’s completed personalization form. The company will not be responsible for any errors due to mistakes or omissions on the personalization form provided by the customer.
We are not responsible for damage done to a product once it has been delivered including, but not limited to, paper damage due to environmental conditions, damage by calligraphers or other individuals who fill in the ketubah or framers.
How do you handle our privacy?
The information that you provide to us will be used to process your order only. Our company will never share your information with any other individuals or companies. For more information see our Privacy Policy.
We occasionally correspond with our customers via email or snail mail. To unsubscribe from this correspondence, simply email us and we will promptly remove you from our mailing list.
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