Rabbi Tucker’s Egalitarian Ketubah Text

Close-up of two hands holding each other, one with a diamond ring on the ring finger. The background is blurred.

On the _________ day of the week, the ______ day of the month ________, in the year 57—, as we are accustomed to reckon it here, in _______, _____ in the United States of America, we hereby testify that the groom ______ _______ _________ [, son of ______ and ______ _______,] said to the bride ______ _______ _________, [daughter of ______ and ______ _______,] “You are consecrated to me as my wife, with this ring, according to the laws of Moses and Israel,” and that the bride ________ said to the groom _______, “You are consecrated to me as my husband with this ring, according to the laws of Moses and Israel.” The bride ________ and the groom _______ accepted all the conditions of betrothal and marriage as set forth by biblical law and by the rulings of the Sages of blessed memory. The bride ________ and the groom _______ further agreed willingly to work for one another, to honor, support and nurture one another, to live with one another, and to build together a household of integrity as befits members of the Jewish people. The bride accepted a ring from the groom, and the groom accepted a ring from the bride, for the purposes of creating this marriage and to symbolize their love. The bride and the groom also accepted full legal responsibility for the obligations herein taken on, as well as for the various property entering the marriage from their respective homes and families, and agreed that the obligations in this Ketubah may be satisfied even from movable property. We have had both the groom and the bride formally acquire these obligations to the other, with an instrument fit for such purposes. Thus all is in order and in force.

available for all couples in Hebrew & English
see note under “Who is this text for?” on adapting it.

  • 300 words in English and 185 words in Hebrew

    Language Options:

    • Hebrew & English

    • English Only

    • Hebrew Only

    Size Recommendations
    Hebrew & English: Medium
    Hebrew Only or English Only: Small

  • Rabbi Gordon Tucker’s Egalitarian Ketubah offers a full reworking of the traditional ketubah into a covenant of equals. Where the classical text centers on the groom’s unilateral obligations toward the bride, Tucker’s version reframes marriage as a partnership built on reciprocity, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.

    Written in both Hebrew and English, the text draws on the structure of the historical ketubah but deliberately removes the language of acquisition. Instead, it emphasizes the couple’s equal standing and their joint commitment to build a life together. It is one of the earliest widely used egalitarian ketubah texts and continues to serve couples who want to honor Jewish tradition while affirming partnership as a relationship of equals. Because it is an older text, it uses “bride” and “groom” in the standard version, however, this text is available for same sex couples or nontraditional genders with standard customization, so if you feel like “bride” and “groom” don’t describe your relationship for any reason, feel free to choose different terms or leave them out altogether and just use your names.

    In Hebrew & English:
    Progressive, Reform, LGBTQ+, and Interfaith couples with a strong Jewish identity. Some Conservative Jews may use this text with permission from their officiant.

    In English:

    • Interfaith couples (or anyone who doesn’t want a Hebrew ketubah text)

  • Yes, but it may change the Jewish legal interpretation of this text which is designed to have a minimum Jewish legal formula traditional to ketubot. That said, this is a progressive text, so probably won’t be accepted in traditional orthodox circles with or without changes.

    If you decide to make changes, you may change the wording of this text by changing words, deleting anything, using sections from other Ketubah Arts’ texts, or adding a few words.

    • The couple

    • Witnesses (two is traditional but more may be added)

    • Officiant (multiple officiants may sign and line labels are customizable)

    Signature line labels and number of lines may be customized to suit the couple’s preferences.

  • Wedding Details

    • Secular wedding date and time

    • City & State (and country, if outside the USA) of wedding location

    Names for the Couple

    • Full names for the couple in English, as you want them to appear

    • Hebrew names (see What is a Hebrew Name?)
      - if not using a Hebrew name, decide whether you prefer secular names phonetically in Hebrew or the traditional Hebrew format (Name ben/bat Parent and Parent)

    Parents’ names in English

    • First & Last Names for parents in English, if including them

    How do I give you my information?

    A Ketubah Text Order Form will pop up when you add a ketubah to your shopping cart.

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