The Orthodox ketubah text is a legal text document historically written for the bride’s protection. According to this text, the groom commits to certain financial obligations that assure his wife is taken care of in case their marriage dissolves. 

Traditional Aramaic with Egalitarian English (The English translation seen here is not a translation of the Aramaic. The English translation of the traditional Aramaic or other substitutions are also available upon request.)

On the ___ day of the week, the ___ day of ___, in the year ___, corresponding to the ___ day of ___, in the year ___, ___, son of ___, and ___, daughter of ___, join one other in ___, before family and friends to make a mutual covenant as husband and wife, partners in marriage. The groom, ___, promises the bride, ____: “You are my wife according to the tradition of Moses and Israel. I shall cherish you and honor you as is customary among the sons of Israel who have cherished and honored their wives in faithfulness and in integrity.” The bride, ___, promises the groom, ___: “You are my husband according to the tradition of Moses and Israel. I shall cherish you and honor you as is customary among the daughters of Israel who have cherished and honored their husbands in faithfulness and in integrity.” “As beloveds and friends, we promise to strive throughout our lives together to achieve an openness which will enable us to share our innermost thoughts, feeling and experiences. We promise to try to bring out in ourselves and one another the qualities of forgiveness, compassion, and integrity. We will cherish each other’s uniqueness; comfort and challenge each other through life’s sorrow and joy; share our intuition and insight with one another; and above all do everything within our power to encourage each of us to become the persons we are yet to be. We take it upon ourselves to uphold this covenant to the best of our abilities.” All is valid and binding.

Bride __________ Groom ___________ Witness ___________ Witness ___________ Rabbi ___________