Millions in the Ketubah are over: The Chief Rabbinate sets a new ceiling for grooms

The Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel approved this week a precedent-setting decision establishing a minimum and maximum threshold for the Ketubah amount recorded at wedding ceremonies. According to the decision adopted at the Council meeting on Tuesday, the 3rd of Elul 5786, the Ketubah amount shall be no less than 36,000 shekels and no more than 360,000 shekels.

The decision is based on the work of a committee of Dayanim (judges) including: Rishon LeZion, Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi David Yosef, President of the Great Rabbinical Court; Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar, President of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate; member of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, Chairman of the Marriage Committee; and judges of the Great Rabbinical Court Rabbis Avraham Schindler, Meir Friman, David Bardugo, Zion Luz, and Avraham Shalush.

Rishon LeZion Rabbi David Yosef initiated the committee to address the phenomenon of excessive Ketubot, where grooms record extremely high sums they have no realistic ability to meet.

This issue has long occupied Halachic authorities regarding the question of "gmirut da'at" (full intent): whether a financial obligation that lacks a real possibility of fulfillment is considered a valid Halachic obligation, and what the practical consequences are when such documents must be realized in court.

President of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate, Chief Rabbi of Israel, the Gaon Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar stated:

"A situation has been created where grooms commit to imaginary amounts in the Ketubah, which it is clear from the outset they have no intention or ability to meet, thereby harming the document's Halachic significance. The setting of a lower and upper threshold is intended to return the Ketubah to its proper place — a Halachic document with significance, rather than a declaration of intent devoid of content."