What is a ketubbah? The Jewish marriage contract, dating back to ancient times, is called the Ketubbah. The Ketubah is usually printed in a very beautiful, artistic, and creative way as a keepsake document for the bride and groom and an heirloom to pass on. The literal translation of ketubah is "it is written." The Ketubah, dating back over 2000 years, is one of the first legal documents giving financial and legal rights to women. It is written in Aramaic and traditionally is read aloud during the wedding ceremony. The traditional or historical ketubah is a binding legal document which catalogs a husband’s obligations to his wife, and makes provisions for her protection in the event of divorce or her husband’s death. The earliest existent ketubah dates from circa 440 B.C.E. The traditional ketubah text has remained basically unchanged for centuries, and it is the text utilized at Orthodox weddings. The Conservative movement added a clause, known as the Lieberman Clause, to the traditional Aramaic text that requires a husband to grant his wife a religious divorce upon obtaining a civil divorce. (This makes it possible for each party to remarry under Jewish law.) Today's Reform movement typically does not use the traditional text. Instead, Reform texts reflect the movement's ideals and incorporate mutual affirmations and promises. Reform texts do not qualify as legal documents but, rather, serve more as a statement of the couple's vows to each other.
Testimonials:
"Our Ketubah turned out beautifully and all our guests said it was the nicest and most unique they have ever seen! Michelle did a wonderful job understanding our vision and making it come alive on the canvas and this work of art will be a centerpiece in our home forever" Lauren Y., Ohio “Michelle is an amazing, talented artist and every piece she makes reflects that. She is always responsive and always extremely knowledgeable about the content she is creating. Even if you know nothing about Judaic art, Michelle puts you at ease and you know right away that you're in good hands. She is a professional through and through. Her custom work is very unique and always represents the client's taste and perspective. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better artist with a better attitude, work ethic, and final product!” - Samantha A., Austin, TX
"I hired Michelle to make a wedding contract for a friend of mine. She incorporated all of my friend's ideas into the piece as well as mine. It came out beautiful and was done in a short amount of time considering all of the work that went into it. It was completely hand made and it came out beautiful. I will definitely hire her again and would recommend her to anyone who is looking for unique, one of a kind, beautiful art pieces." - Laurie K., New Orleans, LA
Our Kettubah Story
One would think that after selling several ketubot (plural of ketubah), the artist that we selected to create ours would at least have the proper text. After weeks (months really) of checking and rechecking the text, sending the proof back time and time and time again, one might hope that our names were spelled correctly right? I have to wonder how many, technically, void wedding contracts are out there as a result of that particular artist. As a result of this back and forth, attempting to perfect the legal contract that would bind us in marriage, our ketubah needed to be printed on low quality paper (the printer was closed for the weekend by the time it was actually ready), on the artist's printer at home. But it was okay, we were told that the artist was unhappy with the print and wanted to redo it and send the remake to us. (What we didn't count on was being charged not only for the overnight shipping, but then charged full price for the second kettubah (which needed different text for a replacement version to be legally binding). Regardless of the quality, or lack of, it was still my ketubah and I was going to guard it well. You see, my parents ketubah had been rolled up in the table cloth just after their ceremony, never to be seen again. (I never knew that the one hanging in the dining room was not the original.) I was determined not to have the same thing happen. So, at the brunch the next day, we put the ketubah on top of a tv cabinet to be out of the way and unable to be rolled into a table cloth of any kind. We now have a new family tradition, the ketubah must be trashed and replaced...yes...it was cleared with the trash at the brunch. But, never fear...it was being replaced by the artist...or so I thought. Now we have a different one, properly signed in our safe deposit box.
Click on picture below to see enlarged photo.
Suggested links for more information on ketubot (plural of ketubah), Jewish marriage, & weddings: