Select a Ketubah

Choosing your ketubah may have seemed like a small endeavor in comparison to the many daunting decisions that you have had to make (setting a day, month, year, picking a venue, dress, photographer, …) in the planning of your wedding ceremony and celebration. But now, purchasing a ketubah online could possibly seem to you like Mission Impossible.

Just imagine walking into a massive department store filled with thousands of ketubot. This is pretty much what it is like to buy a ketubah online. Utterly baffling. So many choices, so many styles, an abundance of colors…  Which language; English, Hebrew, Aramaic…all of the above?  And, in addition, the plethora of texts… There are so many possibilities: Reform, Orthodox, Humanistic, Conservative, Spiritual, Secular, Interfaith, anniversary… and even then, there are additional nuances of wording and content. How to choose? Where do you begin? A bit overwhelming?

First off, we highly recommend that you speak to your rabbi or officiant to know if there are specific requirements of the ketubah text, religious law or wording that are called for (e.g., the Lieberman clause, or will an English translation or codicil be accepted by your rabbi…?)  Are there any details that they feel must be included?  Things, such as: how exactly should the names of the bride and groom be spelled and recorded, the sum of the mohar (marriage payment paid by the groom) or, how many witnesses, are required/permitted…?).  A lot of these requests are not relevant to less traditional couples.

Many many considerations, but, no worries!  After your purchase, if you choose personalization, we will automatically send you a form to assist in this process.

Both aesthetics and contents are essential to the selection process. Our suggestion is to first make your decision about the artwork.  Put the wording of the document aside for a moment, and start thinking artistic style. Do you favor modern, eclectic or something more classical?  A round, square or rectangular format and layout?  And, what about the color palette?  Bold colors, pastel colors, the absence of color??  An illustrative design or perhaps something a bit more abstract or ornamental?

Aside from the overall composition, certain details might just jump out and speak to you and your partner. Organic motifs are a congruent metaphor for life cycle events.  A particular bird or tree or flower may very well be especially meaningful to you as a couple. A lot of the motifs that Danny brings into the design are symbolic of certain virtues and merits that could have a singular meaning to you.

Historically, architectural elements in a ketubah design are suggestive of the covenant made by the couple, who join forces and share their lives by building a household and family together. By doing so, they are perpetuating the Jewish people and their traditions.  Other prominent motifs are intertwining trees, symbolizing the evolving growth of two individuals in a marriage. The city of Jerusalem and the menorah, representing the light cast by the Torah, the Laws of Moses and  the teachings of the sages, are also traditional motifs found in ketubah art.

And, color!  Who really understands why we a subliminal attraction to a particular color or why we reject it completely?  Is it just a matter of “I like that; I don’t like that”?  Since we won’t over-analyze this, here, we can pretty much just accept that we are drawn to certain colors; and for many reasons that we cannot quite comprehend, it is entirely subjective.  My only suggestion about color would be to pick something that you want to look at hanging on the wall, today, and that you believe that you will continue to enjoy in the years to come.

If at first, you both thought you had a clear idea of the exact ketubah you wanted, well… now, you might not be so sure. However, the search and ultimate discovery of your ketubah can be an extraordinary pursuit for loving friends.  An exploration of both the visual and textual expresses your faith, values and intention. Choosing a ketubah can foster a relationship of intimacy, communication and the honesty to discuss commitment to a couple’s commonality, as well as, honoring their separate voices.

That being said, if you are, here, reading this, you are probably searching for a beautiful papercut ketubah. Well, you can put your feet up and breathe a little easier because we can make your quest online a non-confusing, seamless and—yes– even pleasant experience. We are a boutique papercut ketubah shop and we know how to give personal attention to our clients. And, of course, we sell Danny Azoulay’s truly amazingly beautiful work.

Danny creates paper cut ketubahs that celebrate Jewish marriage and emanate joy through the harmony of movement, color and composition with a nod to the past and its illustrious traditions and an eye to the present through design and technique.  Some of the artwork is more derivative, while others are more evocative; some are more conventional and others more contemporary in style. There are geometric designs, organic motifs, narrative themes, colorful or monochromatic palettes.

Whether they be sophisticated and elegant or enchantingly naïve, this wonderful selection has this much in common: they are ketubahs made in Israel, cut from fine acid-free archival paper and utilize the highest quality inks. They are all limited editions, signed and numbered by the artist. Danny Azoulay, a renowned Judaic and ketubah artist has exhibited his works in galleries and museums worldwide.

Welcome and enjoy browsing our shop.