About Conservative Ketubot

The Conservative Ketubah preserves the traditional Aramaic content, and may be in either Aramaic or Hebrew but differs from the Orthodox text because it adds additional text about the mutual obligations of both groom and bride. It may also contain a section about the bride’s right to a get (the traditional Jewish divorce) upon demand, called the Leiberman clause. It is important to note that the English is not always a translation and that the Conservative text preserves the tradition of different amounts of dowry for the bride based on her status as virgin, divorcee, or convert. Two Jewish adults of good standing in the Jewish community who are not relatives of either the bride or groom are required to sign the contract.

The Conservative Ketubah

This ketubah witnesses before God and man, that on the ______ day of the week, the ____of the month ____, in the year 5___, corresponding to (secular calendar date), the holy covenant of marriage was entered into between _____, the groom, and _____, his bride, at (place).

Duly conscious of the solemn obligations of marriage, the groom made the following declaration to his bride: “You are consecrated to me as my wife according to the holy laws and traditions of Moses and Israel. I will love, honor, and cherish you; I will protect and support you, and I will faithfully care for your needs, as required by Jewish law and tradition.” And the bride made the following declaration to the groom: "In accepting the marriage ring. I promise my love and devotion, and I take upon myself the fulfillment of all the duties incumbent upon a Jewish wife.”

And I here present you with the marriage gift proper to virgins/divorcees/converts, two/one hundred silver zuzim, which belongs to you according to the laws of Moses and Israel; and I will also give you your food, clothing, and necessities, and live with as husband and wife according to universal custom.” And ____, the virgin/divorcee/convert, consented and became his wife. The trousseau that she brought to him from her father’s house, in silver, gold, valuables, clothing, furniture, and bedclothes, all this ____, the groom, accepted in the sum of one hundred silver zuzim, and ___the groom, consented to increase this amount from his own property with the sum of hundred silver zuzim, making in all two hundred silver zuzim. And ____, the groom, said: “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 possession that I have beneath the whole heaven, which I now possess or may 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 the trousseau, and the addition made to it, during my lifetime and after my death from the present day and forever.”

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 Bin 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, 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 obligation.

_____, the groom, 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 addition to them made for the daughters of Israel, according to the institution of our sages of blessed memory. It is not to be regarded as a mere forfeiture without consideration or as a mere formula of a document. We have followed the legal formality of symbolic delivery (kinyan) between ____, the son of ____, the groom, and ____, the daughter of ____, this virgin/divorcee/convert, and everything is valid and binding. Bride and Groom then together declared before God and man that they have assigned their names to this ketubah of their own free will without reservation or restraint and the they intend to be bound by this holy covenant so long as they shall live.

Attested to __________________ Witness

Attested to __________________Witness

Rabbi____________________

Cantor___________________
 (optional)

Bride____________________

Groom___________________