The Ketubah is the Jewish marriage contract, litterally "document". The Ketubah has experienced a major revival and is a source of inspiration for artists. For many couples, the Ketubah has become a focal point in their wedding ceremonies. The Ketubah is traditionally signed before the actual wedding ceremony; usually in a private room surrounded by family and friends. Traditionally, the Ketubah is a legal contract recording the financial obligations which a husband undertakes towards his wife. Although the Ketubah was originally designed to protect the economically vunerable woman, it gradually evolved into much more than a legal document. To the couple whose marriage it celebrates, the Ketubah represents their covenant of marriage and their new household. The new Ketubah imposes many choices on couples, starting with the content of the document. Some brides and grooms use the traditional Aramaic text but select or write an entirely different text in English. After the wedding, the Ketubah is then framed and placed in the home as a focal point. A Ketubah can be an expression of the love and respect the couple share for each other. The Ketubah is a reflection of the type of Jewish home the couple want live and therfore is a very important part of the Jewish home; a symbol that can be very powerful to the Jewish identity of their children.
