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MODERN REFORMED TEXTS
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1. MODERN ENGLISH
REFORMED: VOWS
"You are
my beloved and my
best friend. I give myself to
you and you alone with all of my
heart, today and forever. I promise
to support you through life's challenges,
in times of sorrow as well as in times of
joy, in order to enable you to fulfill your
destiny and purpose in life. I will try to
always be understanding and forgiving and
seek forgiveness
when I have done wrong."
"I, _________, take
you, __________, to be my
wife according to the traditions of our faith. I
will love, cherish and honor you above all others.
I will protect and care for you. I will provide
for you and our family. I will encourage you to
express your individuality and be the woman
and wife that God created you to be."
"I, ________, take you, ________, to be
my
husband according to the traditions of our
faith. I will love, cherish, and honor you
above all others. I will respect you and trust
you. I allow you to be the man of the house
and the leader that God created you to be."
"Beloved, you are my
soul mate and
the love of my life. I thank God for bringing
us together and joining our hearts in love.
May the Lord bless
us and keep us in His care
as we go through the years together."
On the ___ day of the month of _____, in the
year ____, corresponding to the ___ day of the
month of ______, in the year _____, in the city
of ________, in the state of _________, _________
and __________ have been joined together in the
Holy Covenant of Marriage.
They are now
declared to be Husband and Wife.
Rabbi/Officiant:
________________________________
Bride:_______________________ Groom: __________________________
Witnesses
____________________ ______________________
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1a. We Promise
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 ____,the Groom,
__________,son of _____________,
and the Bride ____________, daughter
of ________________ entered into the
Holy Covenant of Marriage according to the
traditions of Moses and Israel.
And they said to each other:
"We promise to love, honor and cherish
each other;
to be faithful and loyal to each other for as long
as we both shall live. We will build a life
together based on kindness, truth, openness and
respect. We will strive to be accepting of one
another, always valuing the unique gifts and
perspectives each of us brings to this marriage.
As we journey through life, we will share our
hopes and dreams, our joys and sorrows, our
successes and failures, always supporting and
encouraging each other, giving sympathy and
comfort through the difficult times, celebrating
and sharing the victories in the good times,
and standing together side by side to face
the challenges that life brings us. We will
help each other fulfill our destinies and strive
to bring out the best in each other. Beloved,
our love for each other will never diminish; it
will grow deeper and richer as the years go
by. We will keep these vows always.
The two are now declared to be
Husband and Wife.
Rabbi/Officiant _______________
Bride ___________ Groom ____________
Witnesses ____________ _____________
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1b.
MODERN ENGLISH: I AM MY BELOVED'S AND
MY BELOVED IS MINE
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 the unique attributes that each of
us brings to this Marriage.
We will respect, cherish and honor each
other, rejoicing in our love.
We will create an atmosphere of peace
and acceptance in our home.
We will fulfill our God-given destinies
together and teach our children
to follow God. 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 Month of ________,
in the Year _____, which
corresponds to the ____ Day of the Month
of _________, in the Year
_______, 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 Bosor Echad: One
Flesh in God's sight.
Rabbi/Officiant__________________________________
Bride___________________ Groom
______________________
Witness__________________ Witness
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1c.
MODERN ENGLISH: I AM YOURS
BELOVED
I am
yours, Beloved, and you are mine. We are
soulmates, destined to be joined as one.
We will love each other until death
parts us for a time and treasure each
day we are given. We will be faithful to
each other throughout all the days of
our lives, celebrating the special gifts
and the unique attributes that each of
us brings to this Marriage.
We will
respect, cherish and honor each other,
rejoicing in our love. We will create an
atmosphere of peace and acceptance in
our home. We will fulfill our God-given
destinies together and teach our
children to follow God. 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 Month of ________,
in the Year _____, which corresponds to
the ____ Day of the Month of _________,
in the Year _______, 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 laws of God
and Man. They are now declared to be
Husband and Wife. All is valid and
binding,
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2. MODERN ENGLISH
REFORMED: BEST FRIENDS AND LOVERS
On 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 ________,
in the state of _______, the Groom,
___________, son of _____________, said to
the Bride, ____________, daughter of
____________,"Be my wife according to
the practice of Moses and Israel,
and I will cherish, honor, support and maintain
you as is the custom among the sons of
Israel. I will be faithful 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 I will cherish, honor, love and respect you
as is the custom with the
daughters of Israel. I will be faithful
and loyal to you as long as we both shall live."
And they both said to each other, "We
will be best friends as well as lovers, valuing
the unique ideas and perspective we each
bring to this union. We will work at our
marriage, never taking for granted
the gift that God has given us in each other. Our
home will be a place of joy and peace.
We will keep the vows we make to each other this day."
The two are now joined together in the
Holy Covenant of Marriage
(* you may add 'under the Laws of
God and Man'). All is valid and binding.
Rabbi/Officiant__________________
Bride _____________ Groom ___________
Witness __________ Witness ___________
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2B. INTERFAITH,
REFORMED, EGALITARIAN--UNDER THE CHUPPAH 1
On the
____ day of the month of __________, in the year
_____,
which
corresponds to
the ____ day of the month of ________, in
the year
________,
the bride,
_______________, and the groom,
__________________have entered into
the Holy Covenant of
Marriage according to the Laws of God and Man.
And,
they both said "today, we stand under the
Chuppah in front of
family
and friends to
join our hearts and our lives together. Although
we each
have different
roles and sometimes differing viewpoints, we
we will be
equal
partners in our
marriage and make our decisions together. Our
destinies are
intertwined
and, together, we will make this journey through
life. loving,
cherishing,
and respecting one another. Our home will be
filled with kindness and love;
it will be a
place of
peace and
goodness, where all are welcome.
Together, we
will live
our lives to
the fullest, celebrating the love we have for
each
other and our
family. Our children will be blessed and taught
to follow the Torah
and the
traditions of our Jewish heritage. We promise to
be faithful to
each other and never take lightly the vows we
make on
this day."
They
are now declared to be Husband and Wife. All is
valid
and binding, as attested by:
Rabbi/Officiant
__________________
Bride
_______________ Groom _________________
Witnesses
_______________ __________________
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2c. INTERFAITH, REFORMED,
EGALITARIAN--UNDER THE CHUPPAH 2
Today, we
stand under the Chuppah in front of
family
and friends to join our
hearts and our lives together. Although
we each
have different roles
and sometimes differing viewpoints, we
we will be equal
partners in our
marriage and make our decisions together. Our destinies
are
intertwined and,
together, we will make this journey through life,
loving,
cherishing, and
respecting one another. Our home will be filled with
kindness and love;
it will be a place of
peace and goodness,
where all are welcome.
Together, we will live
our
lives to the fullest, celebrating the love we have for
each
other and our family.
Our children will be blessed and taught to follow the
Torah
and the traditions of
our Jewish heritage. We promise to be faithful to
each
other and never take lightly the vows we make on
this day."
On the ____
day of the month of __________, in the year _____,
which
corresponds to the
____ day of the month of ________, in
the year ________,
the bride,
_______________, and the groom,
__________________have
entered into
the Holy
Covenant of
Marriage
according to the Laws of God and Man.
They are now
declared to be Husband and Wife. All is valid
and binding, as attested by:
Rabbi/Officiant __________________
Bride _______________ Groom _________________ |
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3. MODERN ENGLISH
REFORMED: WHEREVER YOU GO
This Ketubah
witnesses that on the_____day of the month of
_________ , in the year _______ , which corresponds to the
_____
day of the month of_________ , in the year____ , in the city
of__________ ,
in the state of____________ , the Bride, _________________,
Daughter of
__________________ and the Groom_______________ , Son of
____________________ were joined together in the Holy Covenant of Marriage.
They have
promised to love, honor, and cherish each other; to celebrate and
encourage
each other's uniqueness, to confide in each other and listen
when the other speaks,
to fulfill their God-given destinies together, to support each
other in all Godly
endeavors. They have promised to pray together and follow
God's Word
together for as long as they live. They have promised to be
faithful and,
forsaking all others, to cleave only to each other.
Each has
said to the other: "Wherever you go, I shall go, and wherever you live I shall
live. Your people shall be my people and your God is my God. Everything we do in
life
Shall be a reflection of our commitment to God and to each
other."
These Holy vows are witnessed to and attested to by:
Rabbi/Officiant__________________
Bride _____________ Groom ___________
Witness __________ Witness ___________
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3b. MODERN REFORMED TODAY BENEATH THE CHUPPAH
Today,
as we stand beneath the Chuppah,
on
the _____ Day of the Month of _________, in the
Year _______,
which corresponds to the _____ Day of the Month
of ___________,
in the Year ______, in the City of
_______________ , in the State of
_______________ ,the Bride, ___________________
and the Groom,
_______________________, we pledge our love and
commitment to each other.
We
promise to respect, honor, cherish, and trust
one another;
to
listen to each other and value the attributes
and unique gifts each bring to this union. We
promise to be faithful
to each other and hold our marriage vows sacred.
We
are now joined together in the Holy Covenant of
Marriage
according to the Laws of God and Man. We are
Husband and Wife, as
attested to by:
Rabbi/Officiant _________________________
Bride ____________________ Groom
____________________
Witnesses: ____________________
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3b.
ACCORDING TO THE PRACTICE OF MOSES AND ISRAEL |
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On
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 _________, in the year
______,
in the city of ____________,in the state of __________, the
Groom,
_______________ said to the Bride, ______________, "Be my
wife
according to the practice of Moses and Israel, and I will cherish,
honor, support,
and maintain you in accordance with God's Word. I will be
faithful 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 and
respect you. I will be faithful and loyal to you for as long as we
both shall live."
And, they both said, "We vow
to support, comfort and strengthen
each other through life's sorrows and
joys. We further promise to share our
hopes, our thoughts and our dreams
as we build our lives together. May
we grow together, our lives ever
entwined, our love bringing us closer
together. We shall endeavor to
establish a home that is kind and
compassionate to all who enter. May
our home be forever
filled with
peace, love and happiness...and may our
children be blessed."
They are now declared to be husband and wife.
Rabbi/Officiant _________________________
Bride ____________________ Groom
____________________
Witnesses: ____________________
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4. MODERN ENGLISH INTERFAITH
OR REFORMED:
LOVING FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
This Ketubah certifies before God
and all those present that on the ____ Day
of the Month of ________ in the Year _____,
corresponding to the _____ Day of the Month
of _________, in the Year _____, in the City of
__________, in the State of __________, the Holy
Covenant of Marriage was entered into between the
Groom, ____________, and the Bride, ____________.
"We vow to be loving friends and partners in our marriage,
treating each other with respect and kindness, cherishing each
other's uniqueness. We will trust each other, living in openness;
sharing our thoughts, our hopes, and our dreams as we build
our lives together. May we continue to grow together, our
lives and hearts joined as one, as we establish a home that is
filled with joy and laughter, love and kindness, peace and
contentment. May all who enter feel the blessing of God
that rests upon us and our family. May our children
always feel secure, knowing the love their parents
have for them, for each other, and for God."
Rabbi _________________
Bride_______________
Groom _______________
Witness ____________
Witness ___________ |
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5. MODERN
ENGLISH INTERFAITH OR REFORMED:
THIS IS THE DAY
This
is the day we have waited for; the moment when we are
joined as
husband and wife and become united before God and man.
Although we each have distinct gifts and talents and
different ways
of looking at life, we now submit them and ourselves to
each other,
promising to listen and value the opinions we each bring
into this union.
We vow before God to remain faithful to each other and
keep ourselves
from all others; to love and cherish each other and to
never take each
other for granted. We vow to live our lives before God
and each
other in
transparency, remaining open to one another and to God.
On the ____ day of the month of __________, in the year
_____,
corresponding
to the _____ day
of the month
of __________, in the year
___________, in the city of __________, the state of
__________,
the Bride, ________________ and the Groom,
___________________, have
made the promise to love, cherish, respect, and honor
one another;
to regard with reverence the faith that each brings to
this union.
They vow to be best friends as well as lovers and
consider
each other's feeling in all words and actions. They
promise
to make their home a place of love, understanding and
peace;
a place where friends and family are welcome. They now
are declared
to be husband and wife under the Laws of God and Man.
Rabbi__________________
Bride _____________________ Groom
_________________________
Witnesses____________________
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6. MODERN ENGLISH: GOD'S
WORD OUR LIGHT
On
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 and unity. We promise to cherish, honor, and respect
each other;
to support
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
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
_________________________
Witnesses____________________
____________________________
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7. MODERN ENGLISH: BELOVED, LOVER, BEST FRIEND
On 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 ________, in the state of _______, the
Groom, __________, son of _____________, said to the Bride,
____________, daughter of _________________, "Be my wife
according to the practice of Moses and Israel and I will cherish,
honor, support and maintain you as is the custom among the sons
of Israel. I will be faithful to you and protect you and love you
for as long as we both live." And, the Bride said to the Groom,
"I will be your wife and I will cherish, honor, love and respect
you, as is the custom among the daughters of Israel. I will be
faithful and loyal to you as long as we both live."
And they
said to each other, “My Beloved, you are my Lover, my Best
Friend, my Soulmate, and my Life Partner. I found joy when I found
you. You inspire me and bring out the best in me; I am a better
person
because of you. You make me strong, but you also help me to depend
on
God in my weaknesses. You not only have my love,
you have
my respect and admiration."
"We will
continue to be best friends and partners, always treasuring the
unique gifts and ideas that each of us brings to this union. We will
build
a life together based on love, kindness, acceptance, and mercy. We
will
build our home on the foundation of God's Word and fill it with
trust,
respect, honor, and integrity. We will endeavor to always support
one
another through all that life brings our way; we will rejoice
together and
we will weep together, celebrating the victories and comforting each
other through the disappointments. We will
keep these
vows as long as we both live."
They are
now joined together in the Holy Covenant of Marriage.
All is
valid and binding.
Rabbi/Officiant
____________________
Bride
______________ Groom _________________
Witnesses
_________________ ________________ |
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7b. MODERN
REFORMED: SONG OF SONGS
How
beautiful you are, my darling, how
beautiful!
You are so handsome, my love, pleasing
beyond words!
Like a lily among thistles is my darling
among young women
Like the finest apple tree in the orchard
is my lover among other young men.
On 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______________,
_____________ said to ____________, "Be my
wife according
to the practice of Moses and Israel, and I
will cherish, honor,
support and maintain you in accordance with
God's Word. I
will be faithful 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 and respect you, allow you to be
the one who leads
our family. 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
(* you may
include--under the
Laws of God and
Man).
Rabbi/Officiant__________________
Bride _____________________ Groom
_________________________
Witnesses____________________
____________________________
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