Ordering a ketubah requires gathering precise details — date, location, Hebrew names, lineage, and personal status. Most of the errors I encounter in ketubot (including in those brought to me for correction from elsewhere) stem from details that were forgotten or transmitted incorrectly. This page is a practical guide to help you prepare all the details in advance, and to understand what should happen if an error is nonetheless discovered.
The Date – Precision Is Critical
The date in the ketubah is a Hebrew date, with 4 components: day of the week, day of the month, month, and year.
Day of the Week – The Traditional Phrasing
- Sunday → "on the first of Shabbat" (baechad b\'Shabbat)
- Monday → "on the second of Shabbat" (bisheni b\'Shabbat)
- Tuesday → "on the third of Shabbat" (bishlishi b\'Shabbat)
- Wednesday → "on the fourth of Shabbat" (b\'revii b\'Shabbat)
- Thursday → "on the fifth of Shabbat" (bachamishi b\'Shabbat)
- Friday → "on the sixth of Shabbat" (bashishi b\'Shabbat)
Day of the Month – Traditional Number Phrasing
Instead of "1 of the month" we write "one day to the month." Instead of "15 of the month" we write "fifteen days to the month." And so on, up to "twenty-nine days."
Hebrew Month Names
Tishrei, Marcheshvan (not just Cheshvan!), Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar (or Adar I / Adar II in a leap year), Nissan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul.
The Year – In Feminine Form and Spelled Out
The year is written in words: "five thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven" (for the year 5787). Digits are not written.
The Critical Rule – Sunset
The Hebrew day does not begin at midnight, but at sunset. This means:
- A chuppah at 19:00 in June (before sunset at 19:45) → today\'s date
- A chuppah at 21:30 in June (after sunset) → the next day\'s date
This rule looks technical, but it is the number one source of errors in ketubot. Clarify with the officiating rabbi the final date before ordering.
Place of the Wedding
The exact name of the city/town where the chuppah is held. Sometimes the name of the nearby river or water source is also added — an ancient Ashkenazi tradition that has not fully disappeared (e.g., "Matta Jerusalem upon the waters of Shiloach"). If the wedding is at a hotel or hall — write the city, not the venue name.
The Groom\'s Name
- Hebrew first name – not foreign. "Jeffrey" → "Yosef" or the Hebrew name given at the brit milah
- Father\'s Hebrew name – "Ploni ben Yaakov"
- Grandfather\'s name (in some communities) – "Ploni ben Yaakov ben Yitzhak"
- Family surname – not halakhic, but common in modern ketubot
- If the groom is a Kohen or Levi – it must be noted: "HaKohen" / "HaLevi"
Important to know: in an Ashkenazi ketubah, the title "HaLevi"/"HaKohen" appears five times in the text – at the beginning and in every mention of the groom. Forgetting even once invalidates the ketubah.
The Bride\'s Name – Including Personal Status
The bride\'s name is written with her father\'s name: "Ruth bat Avraham." In addition – it is required to note her personal status, because it changes both the wording and the amount of the ketubah.
The Five Statuses and the Precise Aramaic Terminology
| Status | Aramaic Word in Ketubah | Principal Ketubah Sum |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin – never married before | betulta | 200 zuz |
| Widow – her previous husband passed away | armaltta | 100 zuz |
| Divorcee – received a halakhic get | metarchata | 100 zuz |
| Convert – converted by halakhah | giyorta | 100 zuz (200 if converted before age 3) |
| Be\'ulah – had intimate relations outside marriage | be\'ulta | 100 zuz |
The word "money" also changes by status:
- Virgin: "kesef betulayichi"
- Widow: "kesef armalotayichi"
- Divorcee: "kesef metarchotayichi"
- Convert: "kesef girotayichi"
Father\'s Name – Special Cases
| Situation | What is Written |
|---|---|
| Child of a regular Jewish couple | "Ploni ben Ploni" / "Plonit bat Ploni" |
| Conversion – no Jewish father | "Plonit bat Avraham Avinu" |
| Adopted – lives with another family | The biological father\'s name. If unknown – special halakhic solutions with a rabbi |
| Child of a halalah | Complex – requires a rabbi\'s ruling |
The Witnesses – Two Persons the Couple Fully Trusts
Who Is Qualified to Testify?
- A Jewish male adult (over 13)
- An observant Jew who keeps Shabbat publicly
- Not a relative of either the groom or the bride
- Not disqualified from testimony (thief, fraud, public Shabbat desecrator)
Who Is Not Qualified?
- Family relatives: father, brother, son, first cousin, son-in-law, brother-in-law (in certain degrees – consult a rabbi)
- A woman (in an Orthodox ketubah)
- A minor (under 13)
- A public Shabbat desecrator or idolater
- A deaf-mute or mentally incompetent person
Golden tip: choose the witnesses two weeks before the wedding. Ask them to prepare their full Hebrew name with their father\'s name (and the "HaKohen"/"HaLevi" designation if applicable). Do not surprise the witnesses at the last moment under the chuppah.
The Sum in the Ketubah
Principal Ketubah (the halakhic minimum)
- Virgin – 200 zuz
- Widow / divorcee / convert / be\'ulah – 100 zuz
The value of 200 zuz today ranges between 7,000 and 15,000 NIS, depending on the calculation method of the rabbi.
Tosefet Ketubah (Additional Amount)
An additional sum the groom agrees to add – with no halakhic limit. Most couples add a high symbolic sum: 180,000 / 360,000 / 1,800,000 NIS, or amounts with personal significance.
What to Do If an Error Is Discovered?
This may be the most important part of this page. According to halakhah, a couple may not live together even for one hour without a valid ketubah (Shulchan Arukh, Even HaEzer 66). Therefore, dealing with an error is urgent.
Scenario 1 – Error Discovered Before the Wedding
The simple solution. Printed ketubah: 24-48 hours to update. Handwritten ketubah: 3-7 days, depending on workload. We handle this at no extra charge (as long as it is our error or a detail update).
Scenario 2 – Error Discovered Under the Chuppah Itself
The officiating rabbi decides:
- Minor error (spelling, surname): sometimes corrected under the chuppah with a "kiyum" and additional witness signatures next to the correction
- Major error (first name, father\'s name, date, status, Kohen/Levi): the chuppah proceeds without a ketubah, and a new ketubah is written later
Until a valid ketubah is written – the couple cannot be together halakhically. So it is urgent.
Scenario 3 – Error Discovered After the Wedding
A "ketubah de\'irkhasa" is written – a new ketubah stating that it stands in place of the ketubah found to have an error. The original wedding date is preserved. See our page on Replacement Ketubah for more details.
Scenario 4 – Error Discovered Years Later (Especially During Divorce)
In such cases, the error may delay the get. The solution: the Rabbinate writes a new ketubah retroactively (with the original date) before the divorce, and only then proceeds with the get.
Corrections in the Ketubah – What Is and Is Not Allowed
The main rule: error in names / date / place → write a new ketubah. Do not correct. The reason: a handwritten correction on a printed ketubah looks like forgery; the witnesses who signed – signed on the original text, not on the correction.
Cases That Require a "Kiyum" at the End of the Ketubah
If for some reason the ketubah was corrected in place – a "kiyum" (validation) at the end is required:
- Erasure – even of a single letter
- Suspended letters (letters written above the line)
- Words between the lines
- Words extending beyond the margins
The kiyum is written: "and regarding the word [corrected] over the erasure/above the line – reliable." The witnesses sign again next to the correction.
Checklist – What to Prepare Before Ordering
Print this list, fill it out before contacting us. It will save 1-2 follow-up calls:
- Wedding date – Gregorian + Hebrew + day of week
- Time of the chuppah (important for the sunset rule)
- Wedding location (city name)
- Groom\'s Hebrew name + father\'s name + grandfather (if relevant)
- Groom\'s lineage: Israelite / Kohen / Levi
- Bride\'s Hebrew name + father\'s name
- Bride\'s lineage: Israelite / Bat Kohen / Bat Levi
- Bride\'s status: virgin / widow / divorcee / convert
- Two witnesses – full Hebrew names + father\'s name + Kohen/Levi designation
- Name of the officiating rabbi
- Tosefet ketubah amount (to be agreed with the rabbi)
How to Begin?
- Fill out the checklist above
- Consult the officiating rabbi on special cases (Kohen/Levi, personal status, conversion)
- Choose a design from our catalog
- Contact us – we will handle all details together. Click here
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my father's Hebrew name if he used to be called up to the Torah?
The best way is to check your late father's gravestone, or your parents' original ketubah. If still living - ask him or his community rabbi. If there is no way to find out - there is a halakhic solution to write "Ploni ben Moshe" (a general name) or "ben Avraham" - but this requires a rabbi's ruling.
What if I don't know the father's name of one of the witnesses?
Ask the witness himself before the wedding. If he doesn't know - ask him to check with his family. With observant Jewish witnesses, this is usually known. If it's last-minute - you may need to replace the witness.
Can a witness be replaced at the last moment?
Yes, if the original witness didn't arrive or was found to be a relative / disqualified. The officiating rabbi will choose a substitute witness from among the guests. The replacement is not a halakhic problem as long as the new witness is qualified.
What if the wedding is after sunset - what date is written?
The date of the following day. If the wedding is on a Monday evening after sunset - the ketubah will be written as "on the third of Shabbat" (Tuesday) at the next Hebrew date. The same applies to the period between sunset and the appearance of stars.
Can an error be corrected after the ketubah is printed?
Depends on the type of error. Minor spelling errors or surname changes - sometimes corrected with a "kiyum" and re-signing of witnesses. Errors in the first name, father's name, date, place, status, or lineage (Kohen/Levi) - a new ketubah must be written. We handle this within 24-48 hours.