​CUSTOM   ILLUMINATION   THAT   TELLS   YOUR  STORY
b r i n g i n g    t h e    k e t u b a h    i n t o    t h e    2 1 s t    c e n t u r y​​​
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h o w    d i d    w e    g e t    s t a r t e d ?
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while  searching  for  a ketubah with  my husband  four years ago,  i  found
myself  disappointed  by  the  selection  &  style of  ketubot  that  we were
finding.   we  wanted  something   modern,  sleek,  personal,   yet  jewish--
something that was decidedly not what our parents (or bubbe) would hang.

we wanted something that had a distinct link to the traditions &  beauty of
the  jewish people  &  jewish  art,   but didn't look like we purchased it at a
local judaica shop our rabbi suggested, or from a website that focuses on a
​mass production of  non-specific,  dated designs that failed to express "us."

so i made my own ketubah.  we wrote our own text,  had  it  translated into
hebrew,  &  hand-calligraphed  by  a  master  hebrew  calligrapher.   i  then
researched  &  studied the  history  of  jewish  illumination  &  art.  i sought out symbols & imagery--both historically jewish  &  personal to our history
as a couple--that visually conveyed the central themes of our ketubah text,
as well as who we are individually  &  who we had become  to  one another.

​the surprise?  i fell in love with the process of designing & making  ketubot.

i became  excited  at the notion of  helping  a  new generation of  american
jews in creating ​their own truly meaningful & personal document; a custom
work of art  that has a way of holding true to our  unique  &  rich  tradition,
while  simultaneously  exploring  a more  modern  way of  expressing  what
marriage  can  &  should  be  in  the  21st century.

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​​                                . . . and so,  THE NEW KETUBAH  was  born.
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​a    b    o    u    t          t    h    e         a    r    t    i    s    t
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​nick is an art-lover, design fanatic, & diehard new englander who loves autumn leaves & thick knit sweaters.  he attended emerson college, where he received a bachelor of fine arts & met his husband, andrew (a current rabbinical student at hebrew union college — jewish institute of religion).  they currently reside  on  the  upper  west  side  of  manhattan.

​nick has had a pencil or brush in his hand for —quite literally — as long as he can remember.  he grew up drawing, painting, & taking art classes. he has been consistently designing, creating, & selling visual art in various forms for the last fifteen years.  he is thrilled to combine his love of art & passion for design with his connection to this rich & ancient jewish tradition.

he considers it a great joy & immense blessing to assist new jewish couples in creating a personal & beautiful document expressing all the possibilities of a contemporary jewish marriage.

 
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o u r    p h i l o s o p h y

a dress or a suit will hang in a closet.         food is eaten & drinks are sipped.         A   K E T U B A H   I S   A   C O N S T A N T.

your ketubah has the potential to be both a family heirloom & a work of art.  hung on your wall, you will come into contact with it every  day -- a reminder of who you are to each other & what you want for your future.     & it definitely doesn't have to look like your bubbe's.

             " it is no longer necessary for a ketubah to be a contract about what happens if or when everything goes wrong.
               it can -- & perhaps should -- be a document that attempts to ensure that everything goes right . . . "
                                                                                                                     - Rabbi Elaine Zecher, Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel of Boston

read a feature on ​Union Reform Judaism's Ten Minutes of Torah Blog -- ​this post originally appeared on the blog of ReformJudaism.org

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