What does a Ketubah refer to?
The Modern Ketubah document traces its roots back to the period of the Babylonian exile. Elders formulated it to safeguard the legal rights of women to property and other necessities in the event that their husbands were no longer present due to a circumstances such as divorce, death, or desertion. Their goal was to ensure that Jewish families would survive any eventuality, including a divorce, when they stated the husband’s obligations to his wife in the Ketubah document. The original Ketubah contract is still in use with just minor changes that have been implemented over the past centuries. This wording is referred to as the Traditional Aramaic. It is the standard text used by the Orthodox community, though couples of all styles of observance also choose this text because it is accepted universally and is legal in the State of Israel.
The Conservative movement took the step to modify the Traditional Aramaic Text by incorporating the Lieberman Clause. This Clause states that if a couple decides to divorce, they will fully accept the ruling of the Rabbinic Assembly regarding the Jewish divorce. If either husband or wife refuses to comply, then he/she can be taken to the civil court and be forced to abide by the outcome. This Clause was meant to provide the wife with a civil solution in case the husband refused to grant her a Jewish divorce, commonly referred to as a ‘gett.’ Without a ‘gett,’ a woman is prevented from marrying again.
Other couples who are members of the Reform, Humanist and Reconstructionist movements, as well as the Jewish Communites , prefer choosing the wording of their marriage vows that they personally relate to. Ketubah texts contain beautiful and poetic expressions of the couple’s hopes and responsibilities in their marriage. It is exciting that modern ketubot are available with texts for all couples including Interfaith, All Faith, Same-Gender and Anniversary, to name a few. Couples can even write their own wording.
The Ketubah document has rich history that spans centuries, from almost all the cities that Jews have ever lived in. This traditional art that reflected the the culture and time period of its creation, suffered a major setback when Jews were greatly persecuted in Europe. However, over the past few decades the custom has steadily been revived. This has greatly inspired modern Judaica artists to create amazing designs that embellish and honor the Ketubah text. There is such a wide array of Ketubah artwork, ranging from traditional borders to abstract paintings, that couples today will be sure to find a beautiful ketubah that not only suits their tastes, but one they can comfortably afford, whatever the budget. For most couples, the ketubah is usually the very first work of art they choose together. Selecting a ketubah is definitely a process but, when you finally agree on one that you both love, you will feel great that you worked together, listened to each other, and made a joint decision. Those are the ingredients for a happy life together. You’re off to a terrific start!
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A Giclee Print – What is it?
Giclee (pronounced as jee-clay) is a French word that translates as ‘sprayed ink.’ It is one of the most popular methods that artists use for fine art reproduction. This fine technology involves spraying millions of droplets of ink per second onto a canvas or paper which captures all the fine details of the original painting. Giclee reproductions are very similar to ‘painted’ works mainly because of the numerous layer of ink applied on the surface. The acid free papers and ultra-chrome inks can last for over 120 years.
This method of reproduction is also very beneficial to artists since they do not have to print an entire edition at once. Each piece is printed individually. The text is written in digital calligraphy and the end result is magnificent. Artists who use this method generally provide a digital text proof for you to review before printing your ketubah so you can be sure the final document is error-free.
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A Lithograph Print – What is it?
This is another time-tested and unique method of fine art reproduction use by artists who mostly make limited edition works. This means that the number of a particular design and text to be produced is determined before hand and once all the copies are sold out that design is no longer available. Most Lithographs are printed (produced) on acid-free paper chosen by the artist. The text is usually written in hand –calligraphy before being reproduced as a lithograph to give the final document the uniqueness of a hand-written document. For those who want their ketibah personalized, the artist will fill in their personal information by hand being careful to match it with their own calligraphy for uniformity.
We provide you with the exact copy of the personalizing information page that will be sent to the artist, for you and any other concerned party to review before the artist produces the final document. With lithographs we do not offer full text proof. In case the artist makes an error on the final document when personalizing, then he will either correct or redo the whole ketubah in time for your wedding.
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Are the Colors I am Viewing on My Computer Screen Accurate?
What you are viewing on our website are high-quality, digital reproductions of each ketubah. The colors may vary depending on the settings of your particular monitor and, as such, the ketubah print that you receive may appear slightly different from your screen. Happily, the majority of our customers have reported that the ketubah they received was even nicer than what they had seen online.
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Who Should Sign the Ketubah?
For the Hebrew/English texts, there are usually five signature lines. One is for the groom, the other for the bride, then two witnesses, and finally one for an officiant. The Orthodox (Traditional Aramaic) and Conservative Lieberman Clause texts normally have only two witness signature lines under the Aramaic, and if there is an English text after that, the five lines listed above are usually included. You can always ask us if you don’t see the signature lines in the View Text page.
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How to Take Care of Your Ketubah
The Ketubah is both a piece of fine art and an important document so here are some guidelines to caring for it:
1) Avoid hanging your ketubah in a position where it would be exposed to direct sunlight.
2) The best lighting for your ketubah is incandescent light.
3) Always ensure that your hands are clean and dry before handling your ketubah. Before filling in or signing the document, put a piece of clean paper under your hand. Oil from your skin can leave a stain and cause ink to bleed.
4) Ask your framer to use UV protected glass or plexiglass when framing your ketubah.
5) Keep the Ketubah away from excessive humidity to avoid damage from mildew. For example, if you are not going to frame the ketubah right away, don’t leave it in a damp basement.
Finally, enjoy your beautiful marriage document as it hangs in your home for many years to come. Let it remind you each day of your wedding day and your love for each other.
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