Sanctifying Intimate Relationships

Intimate relationships bring two people together in a unique emotional and physical connection. This is something to celebrate, whether through the public festivity of a wedding, or in the private reflection of immersion in the mikveh. Sanctifying our intimate relationships elevates these unions and gives them a context of meaning and joy.

Photo by Jordan Cassway

Tena'im

By Joshua Yan and Alison Engel | Document

The Tenaim document, a prewedding contract of the conditions on which the marriage will stand, is an Ashkenazic tradition of engagement. Here is one example. [more]

Found In: Honoring Relationship Milestones

Tags: tenaim

Self-Authored Tena'im

By Rabbi James I. Greene and Jennifer S. Corman | Document

Created by a bride and groom in their personal spirit, with an exchange of gifts fulfilling the tradition of kinyan, the "bride price" [more]

Found In: Honoring Relationship Milestones

Tags: Psalm 104, Song of Songs, tenaim

Tena'im (Engagement) Ceremony

By Joshua Yan and Alison Engel | Complete Ceremony

A tena'im ceremony based on a traditional version but using a new tena'im contract spelling out the couple's mutual obligations in marriage [more]

Found In: Honoring Relationship Milestones

Tags: engagement, tenaim

Ketubah (Wedding Contract)

By Rabbi Rona Shapiro | Article

An article about the ketubah, or wedding contract, which describes its history, new ketubot, egalitarian ketubot, and alternatives to the ketubah. [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: ketubah

Conservative Ante-Nuptial Agreement

Document

A Conservative version of an agreement between the bride and groom to abide by the decision of a rabbinic court in the event of divorce, thus abrogating the situation of agunah, a "chained woman" whose husband refuses her a religious divorce. [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: ketubah

Lieberman Clause

Document

Meant to be appended to the traditional ketubah and written in Aramaic by the late, great Rabbi Saul Lieberman, this clause requires the husband to grant a religious divorce (get) to his wife, should the marriage dissolve. This clause is usually used by Conservative Jews instead of the Orthodox pre-nuptial agreement. [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: ketubah

Orthodox Prenuptial Agreement

Document

An agreement signed by the bride and groom prior to the wedding which abrogates the situation of a recalcitrant husband who refuses his wife a religious divorce [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: ketubah

Orthodox Ketubah

Document

Text of the standard, traditional ketubah in Aramaic and English [more]

Found In: Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies

Tags: ketubah

Egalitarian Ketubah

By Rabbi Gordon Tucker | Document

An example of a halachic (sanctioned by some interpretations of Jewish law) ketubah drawing on precedent from ancient text [more]