Where to keep Kesuba

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Where is one to keep the Kesuba?[1]

Many Poskim[2] rule that the Kesuba is to be kept in the home of the wife’s mother [the husband’s mother in-law] or another trustworthy relative of the wife, or by the Rav or Beis Din.[3] Other Poskim[4] rule it is to be placed in the house of the couple, within the possessions of the wife, together with her belongings. Alternatively, if she trusts her husband to always safeguard the Kesuba even in a case of divorce, she may keep the Kesuba under his possession.[5] Practically, the Sefaradi custom is to keep the Kesuba by the wife’s mother, while the Ashkenazi custom is for the wife to keep the Kesuba in her possession. 

[1] See Mishpat Hakesuba 7/71-78; Nitei Gavriel Nessuin 32 p.203

[2] Rashbash 320; Radbaz 4/70; Yifei Laleiv 66/3; Levushei Mordechai E.H. 49; Shulchan Haezer 8/3; Kneses Hagedola

[3] The reason: As the entire purpose of the Kesuba is to serve as an impediment against the husband wanting to divorce her, and if the Kesuba is in the house of the husband he can simply tear it up and then divorce her. Therefore it is to be kept away from the reach of the husband, in the possession of a relative who the wife trusts. [ibid]

[4] Igros Moshe E. H. 3/26

[5] If however she does not trust the husband in the event of divorce but simply believes she will never get divorced, and that is why she trusts her husband then she may not keep it in his possession. [Igros Moshe ibid]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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