For thousands of years, ketubahs have played an important role in Jewish weddings. While they are still in widespread use today, they have evolved quite a bit.
What was once a legally binding marriage contract outlining a husband’s obligations to his wife has since become a way for a couple to affirm their commitment to one another. In modern ketubahs, couples commonly vow to love, respect and support one another for life.
Often, ketubahs are immaculate works of art that a couple can cherish throughout their marriage. Couples can write their own text or utilize pre-written texts from ketubah services online.
Pre-written texts for LGBTQ+ couples have become widely available, and many companies now offer multiple options. If you’re looking for a ketubah with LGBTQ+ inclusive text, here are four great websites to peruse.
Ketubah.com
Ketubah.com offers five text options for LGBTQ+ couples, plus additional options for couples in which one or both members are nonbinary.
“Non-binary texts are a natural evolution for ketubahs,” wrote the company’s social media manager in a 2020 blog post introducing nonbinary texts. “It’s strange to note, but it actually parallels the art: after all, much of the ketubah art we offer is not gender specific or even prescriptive. Usually ketubah art is focused on representing the beauty of tradition and love. Anything less wouldn’t do.”
Ink with Intent
With the exception of Orthodox texts, all texts on the Ink with Intent’s website are available for two brides, two grooms, two partners or a combination of any of those. It is also free of charge for couples to update any pronouns or change the words bride and groom to partner.
Because Hebrew is a highly gendered language, the company acknowledges that challenges do exist for nonbinary couples who want to use Hebrew on their ketubah. However, the website encourages couples in which one or both members are nonbinary to reach out to discuss different options for how to communicate their love for one another in Hebrew.
The company also offers a standard text for nonbinary couples.
Caspi Cards & Art
In 1993, artist Mickie Caspi and her husband Eran created the first commercially available pre-written ketubah text for LGBTQ+ couples. According to the Caspi website, most LGBTQ+ ketubah texts are based off of this original one.
After ordering a ketubah and selecting the LGBTQ+ text from Caspi, couples can fill out a personalization form to ensure the proper labels and pronouns are used.
Modern Ketubah
At Modern Ketubah, artist Daniel Sroka offers gorgeous ketubahs set on a background of fine art nature photography. The company provides a simple way for all couples to personalize their ketubah to honor their identities.
After selecting the design and text, couples can then request small changes to the text at no charge to ensure it reflects who they are. They can also choose how each member of the couple would like to be labeled on the signature lines. Options include Bride, Groom, Beloved, Partner, and Bashert, which means soulmate.
