This ritual is intended for newly married couples who want to hang their ketubah in their home. Traditionally, the signed ketubah belonged to a bride, but most modern couples view it as a shared document that reflects their partnership. The process of designing or purchasing the ketubah is often a collaborative effort, symbolizing the couple’s joint creation of something meaningful together. It also represents their commitment to one another, making it a visible connection to the wedding day, their promises in marriage, and their intentions for a shared life. This ritual for hanging the ketubah in the home builds on the tradition of hanging a mezuzah, with both ritual objects serving as visible reminders and symbols of a covenant. Ritualizing this moment provides the couple an additional opportunity for connection with their ketubah after their wedding day.
Whether framing your ketubah was at the top of your post-wedding to-do list or you’re just now getting around to it, hanging your ketubah in your home is a meaningful milestone! Think of your ketubah as a metaphorical thread, one that has followed you through the wedding planning process, your big day, and now into your marriage. It serves as a visible reminder of the promises you’ve made to each other and your intentions for a shared future. Displaying your ketubah can serve as a daily affirmation of your commitment as a couple, making a statement that the values and promises it represents are central to your home and relationship. Use this ritual to guide you in hanging your ketubah and celebrating this moment.
Before you start, collect the things you’ll need: the framed ketubah itself, 20-30 small post-it notes, this ritual, a pencil, a hammer, and the appropriate frame hanging hook kit.
Step One: Find the Perfect Spot
Queue up your first dance song or a song you both love to sing, and make sure that each of you have a small stack of post-it notes ready to go. When the music starts, move around your home marking any spot on a wall large enough to fit your ketubah. For example, whether or not it would actually make a good ketubah hanging spot, the shower wall is probably big enough! Work collaboratively or turn it into a competition – but make sure you cover every room!
After your song is over and you’ve identified all the potential spots (both serious contenders and ridiculous ideas), wander around your space together looking at all the post-it notes. Pick out a few of the post-it notes and consider:
- What role does this area of your home play in your lives?
- Where might it feel most special to hang this ketubah?
- Where might you need the visual reminder of this ketubah most?
Use your conversation to decide on a room in your home to hang your ketubah, and from there, pick a wall spot. Once you’ve decided, use the appropriate frame hanging hook kit and the necessary tools to securely fasten the hardware in the wall. Don’t hang the ketubah itself on the hook just yet.
Step Two: Reconnect with the Ketubah Text
Read your ketubah silently or aloud together. Afterwards, share with your partner:
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A moment from your wedding day that makes you smile.
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An element of your ketubah text that reflects one of your partner’s strengths.
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An aspect of your future as a couple that you’re excited for.
Step Three: Offer the Blessings
Hold your ketubah together as a couple and recite these blessings in English, Hebrew, or both languages:
| Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, m’sameach rayim ahuvim u’mikadesh k’viat ha’ketubah. |
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, מְשַׂמֵּחַ רֵעִים אֲהוּבִים ומְקַדֵּשׁ קְבִיעָת הַכְּתוּבָּה |
Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who inspires rejoicing between beloveds and sanctifies the hanging of the ketubah.
| Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higiyanu laz’man hazeh. |
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה |
Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has enlivened us, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.
Step Four: Place Your Ketubah on the Wall
Let’s be honest, hanging things on the wall can be clunky. Do what you gotta do!
Step Five: Wrap Up Your Ritual
These words of poetry are here for you to close out your ritual. Read them aloud or silently, and then celebrate with your partner in whatever way (big or small) that feels most authentic to you two – cooking a meal, curling up on the couch for a favorite TV show, going for ice cream, or enjoying a fun activity!
Beyond the Picture Frame
By Hannah Lybik
Within the four edge
of the wooden picture frame
a canvas unfolds –
folds of paper,
layers of color,
Old new words
of promise,
Inked with intention
and sealed with careful signatures.
But the hope,
the love,
the commitment,
pours forth from the picture frame.
A whole world unfolds –
uncontained and expansive,
Filling our home
with joy
with devotion,
Guiding us forward
together
towards the infinite possibilities
before us.
