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| MODERN TEXTS |
| COVENANT TEXTS |
| INTERFAITH TEXTS |
| TRADITIONAL TEXTS |
| TRADITIONAL EGALITARIAN TEXTS |
| SAME GENDER TEXTS |
| SECULAR TEXTS |
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Which ketubah text is right for you? Click on a link below to learn about the historical background, purpose and unique quality of each text.
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Interfaith A (English)
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| We witness that on the day of the week, the day of the month of , in the year , corresponding to the day of , , here in , the bride, , daughter of , and the groom, , son of , entered into this sacred marriage covenant. Standing under the chuppah they said to each other: as beloveds and friends we choose to walk life's path together. We pledge to be equal partners, loving friends, and supportive companions all through our life. May our love provide us with the freedom to be ourselves, and the courage to follow our mutual and individual paths. As we share life's experiences, we vow to create an intimacy that will enable us to express our innermost thoughts and feelings; to be sensitive to each other's needs; to share life's joys; to comfort each other through life's sorrows; to challenge each other to achieve intellectual and physical fulfillment as well as spiritual and emotional tranquility. We will build a home together and fill it with laughter, empathy, faith, imagination, trust, friendship, companionship and love; a home in which holidays and heritage are celebrated in accordance with Jewish culture and tradition, and respect is fostered for the cultures of both our families. May we live each day as the first, the last, the only day we will have with each other. We joyfully enter into this covenant and solemnly accept the obligations herein. |
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Interfaith A (Hebrew)
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Interfaith B (English)
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| We witness that on the day of the week, the day of the month of , in the year , corresponding to the day of , , here in , the bride, , daughter of , and the groom, , son of , entered into this sacred marriage covenant. Standing under the chuppah they said to each other: as beloveds and friends we choose to walk life's path together. We pledge to be equal partners, loving friends, and supportive companions all through our life. May our love provide us with the freedom to be ourselves, and the courage to follow our mutual and individual paths. As we share life's experiences, we vow to create an intimacy that will enable us to express our innermost thoughts and feelings; to be sensitive to each other's needs; to share life's joys; to comfort each other through life's sorrows; to challenge each other to achieve intellectual and physical fulfillment as well as spiritual and emotional tranquility. We will build a home together and fill it with laughter, empathy, faith, imagination, trust, friendship, companionship and love; a home in which holidays and heritage are celebrated in accordance with Jewish and ____ cultures and traditions, and respect is fostered for the cultures of both our families. May we live each day as the first, the last, the only day we will have with each other. We joyfully enter into this covenant and solemnly accept the obligations herein. |
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Interfaith B (Hebrew)
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Wedding Blessing ~ Interfaith (English)
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| We witness that on the day of the week, on the day of the month of , in the year , corresponding to the day of , , here in , , United States of America, the bride, , daughter of , and the groom, , son of , entered into this sacred marriage covenant. Standing together hand in hand they said to each other: "Now we will feel no rain, for each of us will be shelter for the other. Now we will feel no cold, for each of us will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of us will be companion to the other. Now we are two persons, but there is only one life before us. May beauty surround us in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be our companion and our days together be good and long upon the earth. We promise to treat ourselves and each other with respect, to remind ourselves often of what brought us together, and to give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that our connection deserves. We will face the storms of life together and ride out the cloudy days, cherishing the pure light that is kindled by our love and remembering that though the sun may be obscured by clouds, its life-giving presence is always there. May our life together be blessed with abundance and delight. We joyfully enter into this covenant and solemnly accept the obligations herein." |
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Wedding Blessing ~ Interfaith (Hebrew)
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Modern Vows ~ Interfaith (English)
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| We witness that on the day of the week, on the day of the month of , in the year , corresponding to the day of , , here in , , United States of America, the bride, , daughter of , and the groom, , son of , entered into this sacred marriage covenant. Standing together hand in hand they said to each other: "As beloveds and friends we choose to walk life's path together. We pledge to be equal partners, loving friends, and supportive companions all throughout our life. We promise to build a harmonious relationship of equality. We shall respect each other's uniqueness and help one another grow to our fullest potential. As we share life's experiences, we vow to create an intimacy that will enable us to express our innermost thoughts and feelings; to be sensitive to each other's needs; to share life's joys; to comfort each other through life's sorrows; to challenge each other to achieve intellectual and physical fulfillment as well as spiritual and emotional tranquility. We will build a home together and fill it with laughter, empathy, faith, imagination, trust, friendship, companionship and love; a home in which holidays and heritage are celebrated in accordance with Jewish and _________ cultures and traditions, and respect is fostered for the cultures of both our families. May our love provide us with the freedom to be ourselves and the courage to follow our mutual and individual paths. May we live each day as the first, the last, the only day we will have with each other. We joyfully enter into this covenant and solemnly accept the obligations herein." |
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Modern Vows ~ Interfaith (Hebrew)
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Information about the Lover's Knot text
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| The Lovers' Knot ketubah text was written by Leora Perlman and Meredith Greenberg for their wedding in Modern Hebrew. The Lovers' Knot text is an egalitarian text which forgoes preparations for disaster in order to focus on the type of partnership that is being created. The relationship is symbolized by the Lovers' Knot, which depicts "the unending give and take between two lovers who have joined together on the journey of life" and the harmony that develops when two people acknowledge the individuality of themselves and of each other. Evolution and journeying are the emphasis and commitment is created by developing the fulfillment and satisfaction of the partners. Joint ownership of property and sharing of expenses are stipulated. The intentions to parent children together, to support each other's aspirations, and to practice monogamy also define the relationship. The text connects the marrying couple to Judaism by referencing the "commitments of Chuppa" and naming the text a Brit, or covenant. The ceremony behind this text was a commitment ceremony between two women. This ketubah texts does not make provisions for divorce. Divorce is left to the civil courts. |
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Lover's Knot (English)
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We witness that on the day of the week, the day of the month of , in the year , corresponding to the day of , , here in , the bride/groom/spouse/lover/partner, , daughter/son of , and the bride/groom/spouse/lover/partner, , daughter/son of , gave themselves to each other, embracing the commitments of Chuppa. The Artist's work symbolizes the unending give and take between the two lovers who have joined together on the journey of life. Through the light and darkness, the inclines and rough, mysterious terrains, Leora and Meredith promise to challenge, explore, confront, and listen to each other while evolving along that path, both as separate entities and as lovers. The Lover's Knot is a symbol of the harmony that is found between two people who, in acknowledging one another's individuality and uniqueness, acknowledge their own. With the closing of this ceremony, celebrating our commitment to each other, we intend to: 1. Continue living together and sharing all expenses and ownership of our assets. 2. Practice monogamy, honesty, and understanding with respect to our genderual and emotional lives. 3. Strive to support each other's aspirations as they change, evolve, and possibly separate us professionally. 4. Parent a child or children together to the best of our abilities. We leave a space to re-evaluate these intentions on or around our anniversary each year of our lives together. With this Brit we seal our promises to each other and embark on our journey unending.
Note: This text was used with the Lovers' Knot ketubah for Leora and Meredith. (Gallery III) |
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Lover's Knot (Hebrew)
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1) We used the word equitable rather than equal, because people never have equal roles in a home, nor should they. Equal implies sameness and could foster a kind of measure for measure type of comparison. Equitable roles are not directly comparable, but they add up to a sense that each person is a fair participant in the partnership. 2) For patience and understanding, we said that we would exercise and seek we may not always succeed, but we will always try. As for being kind and loving it is not the effort that matters, but the consistent success. With patience and understanding, our efforts do count. With being loving and kind, our actions and behaviors do. 3) The phrase "helpers that are equal to each other" is based on the phrase "ezer cenegdo" from Genesis 2:19, the "helpmeet" which God intended Eve to be to Adam. |
