Q&A: The Status of the Ketubah
The Status of the Ketubah
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I’m asking without much solid background knowledge, but still—
the ketubah document, as I understand it, is a legal document meant to regulate family matters and so on. Today, the ketubah has no real legal validity, and there are various arrangements set by law that regulate the substantive matters it deals with. In the Rabbi’s opinion, would it be preferable to replace the ketubah with a document of similar intent—such as a prenuptial agreement, for example—so as not to turn Judaism into a religion of symbols with no concrete value? A similar question regarding Sabbath candle lighting: if the purpose is known—to have light—and today, since the invention of fluorescent lighting, that is no longer relevant, would it be possible to instruct that as long as there is light on (in the relevant places of the meal, etc., at the relevant times), there is no need to light candles? Would that be considered a complete abolition (and problematic), or can one say that this is simply limiting the laws to their original time? (And is such a move halakhically valid?)
Thank you
Answer
The ketubah definitely does have practical significance. Regarding the amounts written in it (which are only part of it), there are sometimes practical implications (and it also depends on the race of jurisdictions).
As for lighting Sabbath candles, several halakhic decisors have already written that electricity can also be used. The use of candles is only a preservation of the tradition, and in my opinion there is something יפה about that. That does not contradict the fact that people also leave the electricity on. See a short discussion here:
http://halachayomit.co.il/he/default.aspx?HalachaID=296