A “Modern Ketubah”? Isn’t that an Oxymoron?
A ketubah, or jewish marriage contract, dates back over two thousand years, and the original Aramaic text is still being used, essentially unchanged, today. So what’s all the fuss you keep hearing about a "modern ketubah" and what does that mean to you? Well, I’m glad you asked.
First, some background. A "ketubah" is technically a jewish marriage contract - literally, a legal contract between a prospective husband and wife that among other things sets forth the financial arrangements between them during marriage and upon death of the husband or divorce. It was progressive for its time, since it protected the wife. But it is very much a legal contract, not a romantic part of the wedding as it is often viewed today. The jewish concept of "hiddur mitzvot" compels us to make any mitzvah, or commandment, as beautiful as possible. Thus, for years the ketubah has become an adorned, decorated document. The original ketubah text is in Aramaic, the spoken language of the Jews, and it remains the language of the orthodox text still used today.
Today, however, the term "ketubah" is being used not only to represent the legal contract utilized by traditional orthodox (and conservative) jews, but also to the more romantic document, or wedding keepsake, that many reform, interfaith, and other modern couples are utilizing as part of their wedding ceremony. So what is this "modern ketubah" and what makes it modern? Well, there are 3 basic elements that make today’s ketubah "modern." They are the art, the text, and the media.
First, the ketubah art. It’s no surprise that today’s ketubah art is more modern than in the past. That is a simple reflection of our tastes today. But in addition to the fact that the art is more modern, so is the general layout and feel of the ketubah art. There are artists who are creating ketubahs from photographs (or even making the couples’ own photograph the ketubah art such as ‘Your Photo’ Ketubah) or designing ketubahs around pop art, minimalist graphic art, and abstract art. Long gone are the simple text boxes with a decorated border. Today, the text may literally flow with the art, or be used itself as a graphic, artistic element. The possibilities are endless once artists felt they didn’t need to be tied to the old standard artistic precept.
Second, the ketubah text. Today, artists often make a large variety of texts available to couples to choose from. They will often allow the couple to select the original Aramaic Orthodox text or the Conservative text (which is the Orthodox text with the addition of the so-called Lieberman Clause), both of which are really the only texts that can technically be called ketubahs. But they will often also make available a variety of other texts that are typically more romantic, or spiritual, and usually egalitarian in nature. Thus, with few exceptions, any ketubah text that you see that is labeled as Reform, or Modern, or Interfaith, or Gay/Lesbian, or Secular, or Alternative, was typically written by the artist and is copyrighted its creator. It is not an "official" ketubah text. These texts do not represent legal contracts in any way. Instead, they are designed to commemorate the day, the couple’s vows, and their love and commitment to each other. But they cannot be legally enforced.
Finally, the media or method of today’s modern ketubah is different. Many artists today are utilizing state-of-the-art, fine art giclee printing methods which allow for a lot of flexibility to customize the ketubah. Many artists are now printing on canvas or creating ketubahs out of an alternative material such as glass, wood, or metal. There are still many artists who create custom, original pieces of art or lithographic ketubahs, but the benefits of these other methods such as more affordability and customization, have prompted the rise of such modern creation methods.
So, what is a "modern ketubah?" There is no strict definition, but it is typically a "ketubah" that has art that appeals to today’s couples, with a text that is more progressive than the original Aramaic text, and that is created utilizing modern technology. It is a beautiful thing to "marry" a very old tradition with a more contemporary approach that both honors the past and takes advantage of today.
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