|
HEBREW/ARAMAIC TEXT CHOICES
Combined with Modern
English
|
The Traditional Aramaic
ketubah text is the only text accepted by the Traditional
Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish community.
Aramaic is the
ancient language of the Talmud, which uses Hebrew characters and
is very similar to Hebrew, but is actually a different language.
The text was created
approximately 2,000 years ago, with an emphasis on assuring the
financial support of the Jewish bride in all circumstances. For translation of the
Aramaic, click here
In the United States, many ketubahs contain both the
Aramaic and a modern English portion. The English
section is not a translation of the Aramaic; it is an addition to
the ketubah that
describes the circumstances of the wedding (the date, the location,
the couples names etc). It also expresses the sentiments of the
Bride and Groom and the promises they make to one another.
CHECK WITH YOUR RABBI ABOUT ADDING
ENGLISH TO YOUR KETUBAH.
SOME RABBIS WILL NOT APPROVE IT.
For Conservative couples, the
Lieberman Clause can be added. For translation
of the Lieberman Clause, click here
For couples who want both the
Hebrew/Aramaic and Modern English, this can be combined with
English text (see choices below).
|
THE TRADITIONAL ARAMAIC
For translation of the Aramaic, click here |
|
|
The Conservative Text uses the same text
as the Orthodox (as shown above), but adds at the end a paragraph known
as the "Lieberman Clause". This
additional clause translates as:
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 obligaton.
|
|
COMBINATION TEXT 1a
very short:
On the
____ Day of the week, the ___ day of the Month ___________, in the Year _____,
since the creation of the world, the era according to which we
reckon,
which
corresponds to the ____ Day of the Month of ________, in the year_____,
the Groom,
______________, son of ___________________,
said to the Bride, ______________,
daughter of ____________________, "I
consecrate you to be my wife according to the traditions
of Moses and Israel and I will love,
respect, honor, and nourish you as the sons of Israel have
done for their wives down through the ages."
And the Bride said to the Groom, "I will be your
wife according to the traditions of Moses
and Israel and I will love, respect, honor, and nourish you
as the daughters of Israel have done for
their husbands down through the ages."
The two are now declared to be united in the
Holy Covenant of marriage
according to the Laws of God and Man and the
traditions of Moses and Israel.
Rabbi____________________
Bride _________________ Groom
_______________________
Witnesses ____________________
_________________________ |
|
COMBINATION TEXT 1b:
On the
____ Day of the week, the ___ day of the Month ___________, in the Year _____,
since the creation of the world, the era according to which we
reckon,
which
corresponds to the ____ Day of the Month of ________, in the year_____,
the Bride,
__________, and the Groom, _______________, have said to each other:
"Beloved, as lovers and friends, we join our hearts and our lives
together this day
and
vow to live in love and unity. We promise to cherish, honor, and respect
one another; we promise to support each
other through all that life brings our way, to comfort each other in
times of trial and sadness, and to celebrate with each other in times of
joy and victory.
God's Word will be our Light
as we walk the road to our
destinies together. We will love the Lord our God with all our hearts,
minds, and souls. We
will honor the Torah and bring our children up to do the same.
I now
take you to be my spouse according to the Law of God and Man and
according to the customs of Israel." The two are now joined together in
the Holy Covenant of Marriage
and declared to be Husband and Wife, as
attested to by:
Rabbi/Officiant __________________
Bride
_____________ Groom ____________
Witness ____________ Witness ___________
|
|
COMBINATION TEXT 2
short modern:
On the
____day of the week, the ___ day of the month of ______, in the year _______
since the creation of the world, the era according to which we
reckon,
corresponding to the ____ day of the month of _____, here
in the city of
___________in the state of______________,
_____________ son of _________________,
said to ____________,
daughter of _____________________,
"Be my wife according
to the practices of Moses and Israel, and I will cherish, honor,
support and maintain you in accordance with God's Word. I
will be faithful and loyal to you and protect you and love you for as long
as we both shall live." And she said to him "I will be your wife
and love, respect, cherish and honor you. I will be faithful and loyal to you
for as long as we
both shall live."
They are now declared to
be
Husband and Wife under the Laws of God and Man.
Rabbi/Officiant_____________________________________
Bride_____________________________ Groom
______________________________________
Witness___________________________
Witness_____________________________________
|
|
COMBINATION
TEXT 2b short modern #2:
On the ___ day of the week, the ____ day of the month ____ in the
year ____since the creation of the world, in the city of ____, _________
son of ________said to ________daughter of _____________, "Be my wife
according to the tradition of Moses and Israel, and I will love,
respect, cherish, honor, support and maintain you in accordance with the
custom of Jewish husbands who love, respect, cherish, honor, support and
maintain their wives faithfully. And ____________ daughter of
_______________ said to _____________, "You are my husband according to
the tradition of Moses and Israel. I will respect, love, cherish, and
honor you in accordance with the custom of Jewish wives who respect,
love, cherish, and honor their husbands."
And they
both vowed to be faithful and loyal to each other throughout all
their lives.
They are now declared to be Husband and Wife.
All is
valid and binding.
Rabbi___________________
Bride___________________ Groom _____________________
|
|
COMBINATION
TEXT 3:
On the ____ Day
of the week, the ___ day of the Month ___________, in the Year _____,
which corresponds
to the ____ Day of the Month of ________, in the year_____,
the
Bride__________ and the Groom, _______________ have said to each other,
"Beloved, as
lovers and friends, we join our hearts and our lives together this day
and vow to live in love, acceptance, forgiveness,
and unity. We promise to cherish, honor, respect and support each other
through all that life brings our way. God's Word will be our Light as we
walk journey through life together.
We will love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, and
souls.
We will honor the
Torah and bring our children up to do the same.
I now take you to
be my spouse according to the Law of God and Man and the customs of Israel."
The two are now joined together in the
Holy
Covenant of
Marriage and declared to be Husband and Wife, as attested to by:
Rabbi/Officiant
_______________________
Bride __________________
Groom __________________
Witness ________________ Witness ________________
|
|
COMBINATION
TEXT 3b:
On the ____ Day
of the week, the ____day of the Month ___________, in the Year _____,
which corresponds
to the ____ Day of the Month of ________, in the year_____,
the
Bride,__________, and the Groom, _______________ , have said to each other,
"As
beloveds, best friends, and life partners, we join our hearts and our lives together this day
and make
these vows to one another:
We shall endeavor to live in love,
acceptance,
and unity.
We promise to cherish, honor, and respect each other,
supporting each other through all
that life brings our way.
God's
Word will be our Light as we walk the
road to our destinies
together.
We will love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, and
souls.
We will honor the
Torah and bring our children up to do the same."
"I now take you to
be my spouse according to the Law of God
and Man and the customs of Israel."
The two are now joined together in the
Holy
Covenant of
Marriage according to the traditions of Moses and Israel,
and declared to be Husband and Wife
under the Laws of God and Man, as attested to by:
Rabbi/Officiant
_______________________
Bride __________________
Groom __________________
Witness ________________ Witness ________________
|
|
COMBINATION TEXT 4: (can only be used on
12 x 16 and 12 x 18)
I,_____________ take you,
_______________, to be my wife according to
the traditions of Moses
and Israel. I will love you, cherish you, and honor you
above all others. I will protect, nourish, and care for you. I will provide for
you and for
our family. I will encourage you to express your individuality and be
the wife
that God created you to be.
I, __________________ take
you, ___________________, to be my husband
according to the traditions of Moses and Israel. I will love you,
cherish you, and
honor you above all others. I will respect you and allow you to be the man
of the
house---the leader that God created you to be.
On the ______Day of the
week, the ____ day of the Month of ___________in the Year , ________,
which corresponds to
the_____ Day of the Month of__________ in the Year _______,
_________________ and __________________ are declared
to be Husband and Wife in
the sight of God and Man. All is valid and binding.
Rabbi/Officiant
_______________________
Bride __________________
Groom __________________
Witness ________________ Witness ________________
|
|
COMBINATION #5- (can only be used on 12 x
16 and 12 x 18 sizes)
I am my Beloved's and my
Beloved is mine. We will love each other
until death parts us for a time. We will be faithful and loyal to each
other throughout all the days of our lives, celebrating the special
gifts
and unique attributes that each of us brings to this Marriage.
We will respect, cherish, and honor each other, rejoicing in our love
and our unity.
We will create an atmosphere of peace and acceptance in our home,
showing hospitality, kindness, and
respect for all who enter.
We will fulfill our God-given destinies together and teach our children
to do the same. They will look to us as an example of a Husband and
Wife who are joined together in an unbreakable and Holy Covenant.
On the____ Day of the week, the ____ day of the Month of ________, in the Year _____,
which
corresponds to the ____ Day of the Month of _________, in the Year
_______, here in the City of ___________, the State of ____________, the
Bride, _________________, and the Groom, ________________, have
been joined together in
the Holy Covenant of Marriage according to the
Law of God and the Laws of Man. They are now declared to be
Husband and Wife and Basar Echad: One Flesh.
Rabbi/Officiant__________________________________
Bride___________________ Groom ______________________
Witness__________________ Witness _____________________
|
|
COMBINATION #5b- (can only be used on 12 x
16 and 12 x 18)
As Beloveds and Friends,
___________________ and
__________________
stand before God and these witnesses
declaring,
"Today, we join our hearts and our lives
together
as we enter into the Sacred Covenant of
Marriage.
We will
love, respect, and honor each other in all we say and
do, never taking our unity for granted. We will be faithful and
loyal to each other throughout all the days of our lives. We
will celebrate and rejoice in the unique attributes and gifts that
each of us brings to this marriage. We will honor each other's opinions
and
values, as well as our respective faith, culture, and traditions.
We will endeavor to create and maintain and
atmosphere of peace, acceptance, kindness, and respect in our
home, making it a place where all who enter feel welcome
and appreciated.
We will bring up our children to feel secure, knowing that their
parents love them and each other. Above all, we will teach
them by our words and example to revere God and love Him
with all their heart, mind and soul as is commanded in the Torah."
On the ____ day of the week, the ____ day of
the month of ________, in the year
____,
corresponding to the ____ day of the month of ________, in the year
_____,
_________________, son of ___________________________,
and _______________, daughter of
______________________,
have been joined
together as Husband and Wife according to the traditions
of Moses and
Israel and the Law of God. All is valid and binding.
Rabbi ________________
Bride ______________ Groom _______________
Witnesses _______________ _________________
|
|
TRANSLATION OF
ARAMAIC
On the ___ day of the week, the ____ day of the month ____ in
the year ____since the creation of the world, in the city of
____, _________ son of ________said to this maiden
________daughter of ___________, "Be my wife according to the
laws of Moses and Israel, and I will cherish, honor, support and
maintain you in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands
who cherish, honor, support and maintain their wives faithfully.
And I here present you with the settlement of ___ silver zuzim,
which belongs to you, according to the law of Moses and Israel,
and I will also give you your food, clothing and necessities,
and live with you as husband and wife according to the universal
custom."
And the maiden _______ consented and became his wife. The
trousseau that she brought to him from _______, in silver, gold,
valuables, clothing, furniture and bedclothes, all this ______,
said bridegroom, accepted in the sum of _____ silver zuzim, and
______, the bridegroom, agreed to increase this amount from his
own property with the sum of ___silver zuzim, making in all
_____silver zuzim.
And thus said ________, the bridegroom:
"The responsibility of this marriage contract, of this
trousseau, and of this additional sum, I take upon myself and my
heirs after me, so that they shall be paid from the best part of
my property and possessions that I have beneath the whole
heaven, that which I now possess or that which I may hereafter
acquire. All my property, real and personal, even the shirt from
my back, shall be mortgaged to secure the payment of this
marriage contract, of this trousseau and the addition made to
it, during my lifetime and after my death,
from the present day
and forever.
" _______, the bridegroom, has taken upon himself the
responsibility of this marriage contract, of the trousseau and
of the addition made to it, according to the restrictive usages
of all marriage contracts and the adjoins to them made for the
daughters of Israel, according to the institutions of 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
|
|
Back to top of page |
|
All of my Ketubah Designs can be
used with *any text from
my 
PERSONALIZATION of the English
portion of the Ketubah is free. However, I am unable to personalize
the
