How to Find a Ketubah

A Ketubah is a traditional Jewish wedding contract. Once an item that was used for more practical purposes in Orthodox and Conservative weddings, the Ketubah has become more of a piece of art that symbolizes the marriage, and is now common in Reform and Reconstructionist weddings, as well. Finding the perfect Ketubah can seem daunting, but if you know where to look, your mission will be easier.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide what kind of Ketubah you want. There are as many types of Ketubahs as there are philosophies on marriage, itself. Beside the varying styles of artwork that differ from Ketubah to Ketubah, the wording of the document itself varies greatly. The very traditional Ketubahs in the Orthodox tradition were for men only to sign. These still exist and are used in many Orthodox weddings. A more egalitarian Ketubah is widely available now, however, from almost every place that sells them. This is often referred to as a "Reform Wording" Ketubah. On these, the bride has a place to sign as well. The best idea is to think about the feel of your wedding and the philosophy of your union, and purchase the Ketubah to correspond to those ideals.

2. Look at Ketubahs online. There are quite a few websites that are dedicated solely to Ketubahs, and these are extremely easy to find. Ketubah.com and ketubahtree.com are great sites. See Resources below. Also, any Judaica website will have an entire wedding section where you will find a wide selection of Ketubahs. Many websites offer personalization for an extra charge. This is popular because it means one less thing you have to worry about before your wedding during the planning process (see Resources below).

3. See the Ketubah in person. Visit your local Judaica shop and look at the Ketubah you like in person. Most Ketubahs that are available online are also on display in Judaica shops, and seeing the contract in person makes a huge difference. The artwork will always look different, and the size of the piece itself is always a shock. Doing this will insure that you don't make a hasty decision on a piece of artwork that will hang in your home for the rest of your marriage that you may not like once you see it up close and personal.

4. Order the Ketubah with plenty of time to spare. Because most Ketubahs must have some amount of personalization done to them, be sure to order yours well before the wedding--6 weeks to 2 months ahead of time is standard. Remember that the personalization will be done in Hebrew calligraphy, which takes time. Also, allow plenty of time for shipping.

Resources

• Great ketubahs at many price ranges.
• A great site for hard to find, limited edition ketubahs.

[dorigillman]

on 9/11/2009 well written. but i was always told that the ketubah is to protect the woman in the marriage. in fact, mine actually lays out what the man must do as part of his side of the bargain!!!!