Can a Non-Jew Sign the Ketubah? It Depends on One Major Factor

I get asked this question a lot: “Can a non-Jew sign a Ketubah?”

Many of our customers at Ketubah.com feel confused about the rules of the Ketubah signing ceremony. They worry about having to choose between honoring Jewish tradition and wanting to include others – especially non-Jewish loved ones – in this special moment in their lives.

I wrote this article to answer the question in full.

In this article, you’ll learn three key things:

• What Jewish law (Halacha) says about signing the Ketubah
• A popular alternative to honor a non-Jewish loved one while sticking to Halacha principles
• Two further alternatives for anyone celebrating a wedding outside of Halacha

Does a Non-Jewish Signature Undermine the Ketubah’s Tradition?

It’s hard to find clear, consistent guidance on this topic. There aren’t many guides online.

I hear from customers, particularly in mixed or interfaith marriages, where a parent or grandparent suggests signing the Ketubah — and wants to take part themselves. If asked, of course, you’d love to honor the tradition.

But then you read a little online…and read that Ketubah witnesses must be male and Shomer Shabbat (observant of the Sabbath).

Did You Know?: Around 27% of all purchases at Ketubah.com are for couples celebrating Orthodox or Conservative weddings. For everyone else, the question of the Ketubah signature doesn’t usually apply.

It’s a horrible feeling to think about telling a friend or family member they can’t be part of the Ketubah signing.

But first, let’s ask if this is the case for you.

The One Major Factor to Answer Your Question

As we saw above, according to Halacha, Ketubahs can only be signed by:

• Two male witnesses 
• Not blood relatives of the bride or groom
• Not related to one another 
• Are Shomer Shabbat (practicing Jews, in other words)

If you want an Orthodox or Conservative wedding, this would mean that your Ketubah can only be signed by Jews.

What if my Wedding Won’t Be Guided by Halacha?

This is the key question.

Originally, Ketubahs were legal documents that would hold up in a Beit Din, a court of Jewish Law. But today, the Ketubah is a beautiful tradition that has significance to all Jews – whether you follow Halacha or not.

Anyone with ties to Jewish culture and heritage can include a Ketubah in their wedding. And if you’re not following Halacha in your daily life, then you’re not bound by the same rules. So you can have a non-Jew sign your Ketubah without any problem at all.

Let’s look at some of the ways in which you might do this.

3 Popular Ways Non-Jews Can Take Part in Your Ketubah Signing

1. Sign the Civil Wedding Certificate Instead

If you are having a wedding guided by Halacha, a popular solution to include your non-Jewish loved ones is to ask them to sign the civil marriage certificate instead.

This can be a great way to make them feel part of the ceremony. And it can soften the blow of not being able to have them sign the Ketubah itself.

2. Choose Any Two Loved Ones as Witnesses

For most customers at Ketubah.com, they are not going to celebrate an Orthodox or Conservative wedding. So you are free to have any two witnesses you like sign the Ketubah. This can be the maid of honor, the best man, siblings, parents, and close friends of varying faiths.

Did You Know?: Our most popular Ketubah texts for interfaith, egalitarian, and LGBTQ+ come with spaces for two witness signatures, the couple’s signatures, and the officiant’s signature. 

This is the great thing about the Ketubah. It can be adapted to suit your needs and celebrated in many different ways.

3. The Modern “Guest List” Tradition

When you’re not bound by the rules of Halacha, you can get creative about who signs the Ketubah.

We’ve heard from customers who had more than two people to sign their Ketubah. For instance, they will usually ask the officiant, family members, and close friends to sign.

I once had a customer celebrating an interfaith wedding with a Quaker. Their Ketubah had over 200 signatures!

This example illustrates how you can make your Ketubah your own.

Where Do I Find Good Ketubah Texts?

Some of you might be asking, “If I’m not having a Conservative or Orthodox wedding, what does this mean for the text on the Ketubah?”

For Conservative or Orthodox Jewish weddings, the Ketubah text is set in stone. But outside of these marriages, you’re allowed to get creative.

At Ketubah.com we have an online library of Ketubah texts that have been written by both Rabbis and Jewish scholars. Many of our modernized versions are still anchored in tradition while being adaptable to a range of situations. Check out some of our most popular of these texts here:

• Life’s Journey text for interfaith couples
• Our Lives Together for LGBTQ+ couples
• Best Friends for Reform/Egalitarian Jewish Couples

And there’s more…

We even have an AI Ketubah Text Assistant tool to help you write your own text and make it truly yours.

Ready to Choose Your Ketubah Text?

I hope this has answered your questions around who can or should sign a Ketubah.

Ultimately, the question comes down to whether or not you want a wedding that follows the rules of Halacha or not. Both options are perfectly acceptable. You just need to be clear which one best suits you and your spiritual and religious needs.

With that out of the way, are you ready to choose your Ketubah text?

You can explore the variety of texts on our website and find one that best encapsulates the promises you want to make to your beloved.