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Who says contracts have to be boring?! The Ketubah, which serves as a traditional Jewish marriage contract, can be beautified and personalized by a custom ketubah artist to reflect the values and personalities of the couple getting married.
In the heart of Boston’s vibrant Jewish community, Rachel Jackson has found her niche as a custom ketubah artist, creating stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces that celebrate love, tradition, and personal expression. With a keen eye for design and a deep understanding of Jewish symbolism, Rachel crafts ketubot that are both visually striking and imbued with meaning. I stumbled upon Binah Designs and was so inspired by Rachel’s artistry and design work. I’m starting to think about ketubah designs for my own wedding (next year!!) and her work has given me so much inpso. Read on to learn more about how Rachel became a custom ketubah artist (along with other Judaica!) and what drives her to keep creating.
When you work with Rachel to create your custom ketubah, you’re working with a partner in creativity and self-discovery. “The most exciting part of creating a ketubah is listening to what is most important and meaningful for the couple and translating that into a piece of artwork,” Rachel shares. She takes the time to get to know you as a couple, learning about your backgrounds, your shared values, and the dreams you have for your future together.
From the color palette to the symbolism, you can choose every aspect of your ketubah is to reflect your story. “I really love incorporating particular plants, birds, or symbols that hold deep meaning for the couple,” Rachel explains. Whether you want to incorporate motifs from your family histories, nods to your favorite places, or references to your hopes for the future, Rachel weaves it all together seamlessly.
Rachel’s journey as a custom ketubah artist is rooted in a lifelong love for creativity and Judaica. “I have been doing art ever since I can remember,” she recalls. “My first gig was selling beaded jewelry I made at a local craft fair – my third year doing the craft fair I was no longer eligible for the 12-and-under discount!” As she grew older, her passion for visual arts led her to study bookbinding, sofrut, and conservation techniques. Rachel shares:
I never imagined that I would be doing artwork full time as an adult, but after graduating college it became increasingly clear that it might be possible. I studied visual art and humanities in college, and focused on the form of the book. In my spare time I was also studying sofrut and began taking megillah commissions. After that, I attended the North Bennet St. Bookbinding Program where I learned a lot of bookbinding techniques as well as book and manuscript conservation. When I graduated in 2018, I decided to take the plunge into working on my own full time. I now do a mixture of graphic design, torah repair (which combines my sofrut training and my conservation training) and calligraphy and artwork. At some point I realized that because my life is so deeply infuse and inspired by Jewish texts and ritual, that it was also the biggest source of inspiration for me. I really love helping people make Jewish ritual meaningful and beautiful!
As a custom ketubah artist, Rachel is deeply committed to creating pieces that honor Jewish tradition while embracing a contemporary aesthetic. She works closely with couples to ensure that their ketubah meets all the necessary halachic requirements, discussing elements like the placement of signature lines and the choice of text.
At the same time, Rachel brings a fresh, modern perspective to her designs. “For me, it is important that people use whatever text they feel comfortable with—whether they are an interfaith couple, looking for a non-traditional halachic text, a historical variant, or the standard Aramaic text,” she explains. Rachel has an in-depth way of getting to know her couples so that she can create custom ketubah art that feels like an accurate representation of their relationship:
The first step is to meet with the couple and hear about what they are looking for. Based on our conversation I do a mockup of the text on the computer with a rough sketch around it. I always do the calligraphy first (based on the mockup) so that if something is incorrect here is a chance to fix it. Then I move on to creating the artwork around it. For me, it is important that people use whatever text they feel comfortable with—whether they are an interfaith couple, looking for a non-traditional halachic text, a historical variant, or the standard Aramaic text. If it is important to the couple that it be halahically binding we will discuss elements (like the placement of the signature lines) that affect this. That said, I don’t see it as my place to have an opinion on what kind of text a couple chooses. My one exception to this is that if a couple chooses the standard Aramaic text, I will only write the ketubah if they are also signing a halachic pre-nup agreement.
One of the things that sets Rachel apart as a custom ketubah artist is her dedication to bringing her clients’ visions to life. “I think that creating a ketubah is an opportunity to think about your relationship, and think about the life you want to build together,” she says. “Starting there is a great way to make sure that the end result will be meaningful and long-lasting.”
Whether you have a specific design in mind or you’re looking for guidance and inspiration, Rachel is there to help. She takes the time to understand your unique story and translates it into a piece of art that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Rachel shares that her personal experience running Base BSTN and being married to a Rabbi has helped expand her creative Jewish thinking.
My husband, Rabbi Jackson Mercer, is my partner in creating a beautiful and creative life together. He is a totally out of the box thinker (and Jewish musician—look him up on Spotify!) who again and again shows me new ways of thinking about Jewish rituals. This was one of the things that our relationship is based on: one month into dating we decided to build a bookshelf together from scratch, and since then we have always had creative projects that we are working on together. Now, we run Base BSTN where we have the opportunity to share this with other folks which feels really special. It is so moving seeing people engaging in Jewish life and practice through a creative lens.
For Rachel, the most rewarding part of being a custom ketubah artist is the opportunity to help couples celebrate their love in a deeply meaningful way. “A ketubah (or shtar shutafut, etc) is an opportunity to express your values and your hopes and dreams for the future and I love helping facilitate that,” she shares. “It’s such a beautiful moment to be a part of in someone’s life.”
When you hold your custom ketubah in your hands, you’re not just looking at a beautiful piece of art – you’re holding a tangible representation of your commitment to one another and the values that guide your relationship.
If you’re looking for a way to infuse your wedding with meaning, beauty, and personality, a custom ketubah by Rachel is the perfect choice. “I encourage couples to view creating a ketubah as an opportunity to reflect on their relationship and the life they want to build together,” Rachel advises. “Starting with this mindset ensures that the end result will be meaningful and long-lasting.”
So why settle for a generic, mass-produced ketubah when you can have a one-of-a-kind work of art that tells your story? Contact Rachel today to start bringing your vision to life – and get ready to fall in love with your ketubah as much as you love each other.
A custom ketubah by Rachel is more than just a beautiful work of art – it’s a reflection of your unique love story and a celebration of your shared hopes and dreams. With her passion for Judaica, her eye for contemporary design, and her commitment to meaningful ritual, Rachel creates ketubot that are both visually stunning and deeply personal.
As Rachel herself puts it, “It’s so much fun to connect with other creative folks who are thinking in a critical and open minded way about making Jewish life cycle events meaningful and joyful!” When you choose a custom ketubah by Rachel, you’re not just investing in a piece of art – you’re joining a community of couples who believe in celebrating their love in a way that’s true to their values and their story.
Rachel, thank you for taking the time to chat with me and share more about your artwork and creative process with me. Your work is gorgeous and I can’t wait to see what else you create!!
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Eliana Melmed is a Jewish wedding and event photographer specializing in candid imagery for celebrations in Chicago and wherever love takes you.