Ketubah Version I
"On
sunday, the third day of the month of Sivan in the year five thousand seven
hundred and sixty seven since the creation of the world, the era according to
which we are accustomed to reckon here in the city of London, England how David
son of Jacob said to this virgin Batya daughter of Moshe 'Be thou my wife
according to the law of Moses and Israel, and I will work for thee, honor,
support, and maintain thee in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who
work for their wives, honor, support, and maintain them in truth. And I will set
aside for thee 200 zuz in lieu of thy virginity, which belong to thee (according
to the Law of Moses), and thy food, clothing, and necessaries, and live with
thee in conjugal relations according to universal custom.' And Batya this virgin
consented and became his wife. The dowry that she brought from her father's
house/her own house, in silver, gold, valuables, dresses and bedclothes, amounts
to 100 silver pieces, and the bridegroom consented to increase this amount from
his own property with the sum of 100 silver pieces, making in all 200 silver
pieces. And thus said
David the bridegroom, 'I
take upon myself and my heirs after me the responsibility of this marriage
contract, of the dowry, and of the additional sum, so that all this shall be
paid from the best part of my property, real and personal, that I now possess or
may hereafter acquire. All my property, even the mantle on my shoulders, shall
be mortgaged for the security of the contract and of the dowry and of the
addition made thereto. David the bridegroom has taken upon himself the
responsibility for all the obligations of this ketubah, as is customary with
other ketubot made for the daughters of Israel in accordance with the
institution of our sages -- may their memory be for a blessing! It is not to be
regarded as an illusory obligation or as a mere symbolical delivery between
David son of Jacob the bridegroom, and Batya daughter of Moshe the virgin, and
they have employed an instrument legally fit for the purpose to strengthen all
that is stated above, and everything is valid and established."
Bridegroom
David son of Jacob
Witness
David son of Moshe
Witness
Moshe son of David
Ketubah Version for a Widow
"On
sunday, the third day of the month of Sivan in the year five thousand seven
hundred and sixty seven since the creation of the world, the era according to
which we are accustomed to reckon here in the city of London, England how David
son of Jacob said to this widow Batya daughter of Moshe 'Be thou my wife
according to the law of Moses and Israel, and I will work for thee, honor,
support, and maintain thee in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who
work for their wives, honor, support, and maintain them in truth. And I will set
aside for thee
100
zuz, which belong to thee (according to the Law of Moses), and thy food,
clothing, and necessaries, and live with thee in conjugal relations according to
universal custom.' And Batya this widow consented and became his wife. The dowry
that she brought from her own house, in silver, gold,
valuables, dresses and bedclothes, amounts to 50 silver pieces, and the
bridegroom consented to increase this amount from his own property with the sum
of 50 silver pieces, making in all 100 silver pieces. And thus said
David the bridegroom, 'I take upon myself and my heirs after
me the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the dowry, and of the
additional sum, so that all this shall be paid from the best part of my
property, real and personal, that I now possess or may hereafter acquire. All my
property, even the mantle on my shoulders, shall be mortgaged for the security
of the contract and of the dowry and of the addition made thereto. David the
bridegroom has taken upon himself the responsibility for all the obligations of
this ketubah, as is customary with other ketubot made for the daughters of
Israel in accordance with the institution of our sages -- may their memory be
for a blessing! It is not to be regarded as an illusory obligation or as a mere
symbolical delivery between David son of Jacob the bridegroom, and Batya
daughter of Moshe the widow, and they have employed an instrument legally fit
for the purpose to strengthen all that is stated above, and everything is valid
and established."
Bridegroom
David son of Jacob
Witness
David son of Moshe
Witness
Moshe son of David
Ketubah Version for a Divorcée
"On
sunday, the third day of the month of Sivan in the year five thousand seven
hundred and sixty seven since the creation of the world, the era according to
which we are accustomed to reckon here in the city of London, England how David
son of Jacob said to this divorcée Batya daughter of Moshe 'Be thou my wife
according to the law of Moses and Israel, and I will work for thee, honor,
support, and maintain thee in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who
work for their wives, honor, support, and maintain them in truth. And I will set
aside for thee
100
zuz, which belong to thee (according to the Law of Moses), and thy food,
clothing, and necessaries, and live with thee in conjugal relations according to
universal custom.' And Batya this divorcée consented and became his wife. The
dowry that she brought from her own house, in silver, gold,
valuables, dresses and bedclothes, amounts to 50 silver pieces, and the
bridegroom consented to increase this amount from his own property with the sum
of 50 silver pieces, making in all 100 silver pieces. And thus said
David the bridegroom, 'I
take upon myself and my heirs after me the responsibility of this marriage
contract, of the dowry, and of the additional sum, so that all this shall be
paid from the best part of my property, real and personal, that I now possess or
may hereafter acquire. All my property, even the mantle on my shoulders, shall
be mortgaged for the security of the contract and of the dowry and of the
addition made thereto. David the bridegroom has taken upon himself the
responsibility for all the obligations of this ketubah, as is customary with
other ketubot made for the daughters of Israel in accordance with the
institution of our sages -- may their memory be for a blessing! It is not to be
regarded as an illusory obligation or as a mere symbolical delivery between
David son of Jacob the bridegroom, and Batya daughter of Moshe the divorcée, and
they have employed an instrument legally fit for the purpose to strengthen all
that is stated above, and everything is valid and established."
Bridegroom
David son of Jacob
Witness
David son of Moshe
Witness
Moshe son of David
Ketubah Version for a Convert
"On
sunday, the third day of the month of Sivan in the year five thousand seven
hundred and sixty seven since the creation of the world, the era according to
which we are accustomed to reckon here in the city of London, England how David
son of Jacob said to this convert Batya daughter of Moshe 'Be thou my wife
according to the law of Moses and Israel, and I will work for thee, honor,
support, and maintain thee in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who
work for their wives, honor, support, and maintain them in truth. And I will set
aside for thee
100
zuz, which belong to thee (according to the Law of Moses), and thy food,
clothing, and necessaries, and live with thee in conjugal relations according to
universal custom.' And Batya this convert consented and became his wife. The
dowry that she brought from her own house, in silver, gold,
valuables, dresses and bedclothes, amounts to 50 silver pieces, and the
bridegroom consented to increase this amount from his own property with the sum
of 50 silver pieces, making in all 100 silver pieces. And thus said
David the bridegroom, 'I take upon myself and my heirs after
me the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the dowry, and of the
additional sum, so that all this shall be paid from the best part of my
property, real and personal, that I now possess or may hereafter acquire. All my
property, even the mantle on my shoulders, shall be mortgaged for the security
of the contract and of the dowry and of the addition made thereto. David the
bridegroom has taken upon himself the responsibility for all the obligations of
this ketubah, as is customary with other ketubot made for the daughters of
Israel in accordance with the institution of our sages -- may their memory be
for a blessing! It is not to be regarded as an illusory obligation or as a mere
symbolical delivery between David son of Jacob the bridegroom, and Batya
daughter of Moshe the convert, and they have employed an instrument legally fit
for the purpose to strengthen all that is stated above, and everything is valid
and
established."
Bridegroom
David son of Jacob
Witness
David son of Moshe
Witness
Moshe son of David
Ketubah Version II
On the first day of the week, the third of the
month of Sivan, in the year Five Thousand Seven Hundred and
Sixty Seven, corresponding to the
twentieth day of the month of May, in the year 2007, in
London, England, the groom,
David son of Jacob said to the bride,
Batya daughter of Moshe: "Be my wife
according to the laws and traditions of Moses and Israel. I will work, honor,
feed and support you in this custom of Jewish men, who work, honor, feed and
support their wives faithfully. I will give you the settlement of 200 silver
pieces that is due you according to Torah law, as well as your food, clothing,
necessities of life, and conjugal needs, according to the universal custom."
Batya daughter of Moshe agreed and
became his wife. This dowry that she brought from her father's house, whether in
silver, gold, jewelry, clothing, home furnishings or bedding,
David son of Jacob, the bridegroom,
accepted as being worth 100 silver pieces. The bridegroom added an additional
100 silver pieces towards the above. The entire amount is the 200 silver pieces.
David son of Jacob, the bridegroom,
made this declaration: "The obligation of this marriage contract, this dowry,
and this additional amount, I accept upon myself and my heirs after me. It can
be paid from the entire best part of the properties and possessions that I own
under all the heavens, whether I own them already or will own them in the
future. All of them shall be mortgaged and bound as security to pay towards this
marriage contract, and this dowry. It can be taken from me, even from the shirt
on my back, during my lifetime, and after my lifetime, from this day and
forever." We have made a kinyan for
David son of Jacob, the bridegroom,
with respect to
Batya daughter of Moshe, the bride,
regarding everything written and stated above, with a document that is fit for
such kinyan. And everything is valid and binding.
Groom
David son of Jacob
Bride
Batya daughter of Moshe
Witness
David son of Moshe
Witness
Moshe son of David
Rabbi
Shlomo son of Moshe
Ketubah Version III
On the first day of the week, the third of the
month of Sivan, in the year Five Thousand Seven Hundred and
Sixty Seven since the creation of
the world, the era according to which we reckon here in the city of
London, England, that
David son of Jacob said to this
virgin
Batya daughter of Moshe:
"Be my wife according to the practice of Moses
and Israel, and I will cherish, honor, support and maintain you in accordance
with the custom of Jewish husbands who cherish, honor, support and maintain
their wives faithfully. And I here present you with the marriage gift of
virgins, two hundred silver zuzim, which belongs to you, according the Law of
Moses and Israel; and I will also give you your food, clothing and necessities,
and live with you as husband and wife according to universal custom." And Miss
Batya, this virgin 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
David, the said bridegroom accepted
in the sum of one hundred silver pieces, and
David the bridegroom, consented to
increase this amount from his own property with the sum of (one hundred) silver
pieces, making in all (two hundred) silver pieces. And thus said
David, the bridegroom: "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, that which I now possess or may hereafter 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 of the
addition made to it, during my lifetime and after my death, from the present day
and forever."
David, the bridegroom, has taken
upon himself the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the trousseau and
the addition made to it, according to the restrictive usages of all marriage
contracts and the additions 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
David the
son
of Jacob, the bridegroom and
Batya the
daughter of Moshe
this virgin, and we have used a garment legally
fit for the purpose, to strengthen all that is stated above, and everything is
valid and confirmed.
Attested to
David son of Moshe
Witness
Attested to
Moshe son of David Witness
Ketubah Text I
with Lieberman
Clause
"On the first day of the week, the third of the
month of Sivan, in the year Five Thousand Seven Hundred and
Sixty Seven, since the creation of
the world, the era according to which we are accustomed to reckon here in the
city of
London, England, how
David son of Jacob said to this
virgin
Batya daughter of Moshe 'Be thou my
wife according to the law of Moses and Israel, and I will work for thee, honor,
support, and maintain thee in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who
work for their wives, honor, support, and maintain them in truth. And I will set
aside for thee 200 zuz, in lieu of thy virginity, which belong to thee
(according to the Law of Moses), and thy food, clothing, and necessaries, and
live with thee in conjugal relations according to universal custom.' And
Batya this virgin consented and
became his wife. The dowry that she brought from her father's house, in silver,
gold, valuables, dresses and bedclothes, amounts to 100 silver pieces, and the
bridegroom consented to increase this amount from his own property with the sum
of 100 silver pieces, making in all 200 silver pieces. And thus said
David
the bridegroom, 'I take upon myself and my heirs
after me the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the dowry, and of the
additional sum, so that all this shall be paid from the best part of my
property, real and personal, that I now possess or may hereafter acquire. All my
property, even the mantle on my shoulders, shall be mortgaged for the security
of the contract and of the dowry and of the addition made thereto.'
David the bridegroom has taken upon
himself the responsibility for all the obligations of this ketubah, as is
customary with other ketubot made for the daughters of Israel in accordance with
the institution of our sages -- may their memory be for a blessing! It is not to
be regarded as an illusory obligation or as a mere symbolical delivery between
David son of Jacob the bridegroom,
and
Batya daughter of Moshe the virgin,
and they have employed an instrument legally fit for the purpose to strengthen
all that is stated above, and everything is valid and established. And in solemn assent to their mutual responsibilities and
love, the bridegroom and bride have declared: as evidence to our desire to
enable each other to live in accordance with the Jewish law of marriage
throughout our lifetime, we, the bride and bridegroom, attach our signatures to
this ketubah, and hereby agree to recognize the Bet Din of the Rabbinical
Assembly and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, or its duly appointed
representatives, as having authority to council us in the light of Jewish
tradition which requires husband and wife to give each other complete love and
devotion, and to summon either party at the request of the other, in order to
enable the party so requesting to live in accordance with the standards of
Jewish law of marriage throughout his or her lifetime. We authorize the Bet Din
to impose such terms of compensation as it may see fit for failure to respond to
its summons or to carry out its decision."
Attested to
David son of Moshe
Witness
Attested to
Moshe son of David Witness
Ketubah Text II
with Lieberman Clause
On the first day of the week, the third of the
month of Sivan, in the year Five Thousand Seven Hundred and
Sixty Seven
since the creation of the world, the era
according to which we reckon here in the city of
London, England, that
David son of Jacob said to this
(virgin)
Batya daughter of Moshe:
"Be my wife according to the practice of Moses
and Israel, and I will cherish, honor, support and maintain you in accordance
with the custom of Jewish husbands who cherish, honor, support and maintain
their wives faithfully. And I here present you with the marriage gift of
(virgins), (two hundred) silver zuzim, which belongs to you, according to the
law of Moses and Israel; and I will also give you your food, clothing and
necessities, and live with you as husband and wife according to universal
custom." And Miss
Batya, this (virgin) 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
David, the said bridegroom accepted
in the sum of (one hundred) silver pieces, and
David the bridegroom, consented to
increase this amount from his own property with the sum of (one hundred) silver
pieces, making in all (two hundred) silver pieces. And thus said
David, the bridegroom: "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, that which I now possess or may hereafter 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 of the
addition made to it, during my lifetime and after my death, from the present day
and forever."
David, the bridegroom, has taken
upon himself the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the trousseau and
the addition made to it, according to the restrictive usages of all marriage
contracts and the additions 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
David the son of Jacob, the
bridegroom and
Batya the daughter of Moshe this
(virgin), and we have used a garment legally fit for the purpose, to strengthen
all that is stated above, and everything is valid and confirmed.
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 Din 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, then 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.
Attested to
David son of Moshe
Witness
Attested to
Moshe son of David Witness
Yemenite
Ketubah
This day, on the Sabbath eve, corresponding to the ninth day of the month of
Shevat, in the year two-thousand and fifty-eight of the Year of Alexander the
Great, in the town wherein lies the quarter known as 'The Single's Well'
situated upon her wells of flowing water, by the merit of Abraham our
forefather, how that Yosef, the son of Salim, the son of Slayman al-Hisas, who
is called by the name al-Ftayhi, being the bridegroom, said to the virgin
bride, Ghazal, the daughter of Yosef, the son of Salim Salih, who is called by
the name al-Haydani, being the virgin bride, "Be my wife, in keeping with the
religion of Moses and Israel, and I shall, with God's help, work, and honor, and
sustain, and nourish, and support, and invest you with clothing, according to
the manner of Jewish men who work, and honor, and sustain, and nourish, and
support, and clothe their wives in good faith, for which I have proffered you
the dower's price of your virginity, two-hundred silver denarius,
in which there are twenty-five denarius of pure silver coin in specie, of which
things you are most worthy, as also your sustenance, and your apparel, and your
conjugal rights, that I might come upon you according to the way of the whole
world." Now this bride consented, and she has become unto him a wife. Now this
largess which she brought into him is valued at one hundred silver qaflas. All
has been received by this bridegroom, and has come into his hand, and has become
his possession, and he has incurred every-thing upon himself as it were a loan,
and a debt. That which the husband, the said bridegroom, has vouchsafed unto her
as an initial gift is valued at one hundred silver qaflas, and a courtyard
amongst those places inhabited by Jews, allowing her to go out and to come him,
and supplying her with all that which she might stand in need of, which are but
fitting unto her, from the depths of the earth unto the height of heaven. And he
has desired, moreover, to confer upon her an additional jointure subsequent to
that which is prescribed of the dower's price, the value of which is one-hundred
silver qaflas. All are comprised of those silver qaflas mentioned above, which
in every one hundred qaflas of those calculated are twenty two pure and
unalloyed silver qaflas, based after the weight of the San'ani, jewelers, and
which same is recognized as silver in the city of San'a, in the Silversmiths'
Marketplace. And thus did the said bridegroom say unto us,
that "the guarantee given for this marriage contract, in its entirety, the
principal, and the largess, and the initial gift, and the courtyard, and the
additional jointure, with all the other conditions in the marriage contract, I
have taken upon myself and upon my heirs that shall come after me, and have made
subject the choicest of property and acquisitions acquired by me beneath the
whole of heaven, whether those things which I have purchased or that which I
stand to purchase in the future, whether it be of estates or of chattels, or the
appurtenances which lie upon lands of estate; all of them shall become the
collateral and security for this marriage contract in its entirety – the
principal, and the largess, and the initial gift, and the courtyard, and the
additional jointure – for the reimbursement thereof, whether in my lifetime or
after death, and even if it entails being stripped of the robe upon my
shoulder." Now we have purchased from Yosef, the said bridegroom,
for this bride, Ghazal, concerning all that which is written or expressly stated
above, what is considered a most complete act of purchase, having the full force
and validity, taking effect from this very moment by virtue of a decent piece of
clothing with which he disavows all declarations and stipulations, even unto the
very last statements. Moreover, this marriage contract are not a mere
'assumption', neither like unto those pre-drafted forms used in contracts, but
rather like unto those which have the severity and force of all marriage
contracts practiced in Israel, as which is right, and in accordance with what
was enacted by the Rabbis, of blessed memory. Now all has our assurances of
being firm and established.
Witnesses:
David, the son of Yihye, may his name live forever
The
younger, Yihye, the son of our honorable teacher, the Rabbi, Yosef, whose
inheritance is in the Garden of Eden.
