Israel sets minimum and maximum limits for ketubah payments

The Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel approved a landmark decision on August 16, establishing minimum and maximum limits for the ketubah, the traditional Jewish marriage contract. Under the new directive, the sum pledged by a groom in the contract must be between 36,000 and 360,000 shekels. The move aims to restore the legal and religious significance of the document.

The initiative was led by Rabbi David Yosef, president of the Great Rabbinical Court, alongside Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber and senior rabbinical judges. The decision addresses long-standing disputes in rabbinical courts regarding excessively high ketubah amounts, which often involve sums that grooms have no realistic ability or intention to pay.

Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber told Ynet that the practice of pledging imaginary sums had undermined the halachic (Jewish law) purpose of the document. He explained that the new thresholds are intended to ensure the ketubah remains a meaningful instrument for providing the wife with genuine financial security, rather than serving as an empty declaration of status.

The ketubah is a religious and legal contract outlining a husband's obligations to his wife during the marriage and in the event of its dissolution. Supporters of the move, including representatives from parenting advocacy groups, expressed hope that these clear guidelines will reduce litigation and help align marriage obligations with contemporary economic realities.