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Who can/should sign a Ketubah?

  

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Rabbi Shlomo Chein: Welcome. I'll be with you in a moment...what's on your mind?

Irene: Thank you Rabbi - Who can / should sign a Ketubah?

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: two witnesses

Irene: two for each side?

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: no

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: just two

Irene: Are there any restrictions on who they can be?

Irene: blood relatives for i.e.

Rabbi Shlomo Chein: there are quite a few restrictions. They must be Shomer Shabbat/Shabbat observing Jewish males, and they cannot be related to each other, or to the bride or groom1

Irene: Many thanks Rabbi

Irene: good night

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Footnotes

  • 1. Generally speaking relatives of the bride or groom cannot serve as witnesses. The following relatives of either the bride or groom are disqualified from being witnesses: a father or step-father, grandfather or step-grandfather, great-grandfather, etc., sons and sons-in-law, grandsons and grand-sons-in-law, brothers and brothers-in-law, uncles and great-uncles (through blood or marriage), cousins (through blood or marriage), nephews or great-nephews (through blood or marriage). Additionally, the witnesses may not be related to each other. Because these laws are complex the officiating Rabbi should be notified in advance in order to verify the legitimacy of the witnesses. The same laws apply to the witnesses for the Chupah.

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Shabbat
(pl: Shabbatot). Hebrew word meaning "rest." It is a Biblical commandment to sanctify and rest on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This commemorates the fact that after creating the world in six days, G-d rested on the seventh.
Ketubah
The wedding contract which features the husband’s various obligations to his wife. The focal point of the document is the financial compensation due to the wife in the event of the marriage’s dissolution through divorce or widowhood.