Gallery Judaica is an extensive and simple online resource for a Jewish wedding, holiday, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, birthday — or any joyous occasion. Whether you are interested in something specific or are simply curious about contemporary judaica, Gallery Judaica is happy to help and takes great pride in their ketubah personalization service. One of the ketubah artists from the extensive roster skillfully fills in your ketubah, transforming the exquisitely displayed wedding vows into an art-piece that is truly your own.
The Wedding Yentas: Let’s start at the beginning. How did Gallery Judaica start?
Gallery Judaica: Gallery Judaica began with a class at a local synagogue around 30 years ago. The Holiday Workshop Series at Kehillat Israel made people realize that the West Los Angeles area needed a place to find beautiful Judaica to celebrate the holidays. First operating out of a private home, the gallery grew into the local community’s go-to resource for Jewish gifts and one-stop shop for Jewish weddings. Then around 10 years ago, we built a modest little website that’s grown into a major retail destination for clients around the world. Our mission has always been “Hiddur Mitzvah,” the beautification of the commandments. We love bringing contemporary style and sensibilities to ages-old Jewish traditions.
TWY: What kinds of items does Gallery Judaica sell?
GJ: Gallery Judaica sells all things Judaica. We sell everything you need for Jewish occasions: a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Passover, and we specialize in Jewish weddings. We have a large collection of stunning ketubot (plural of ketubah) with designs for every taste. Our ketubah personalization service transforms the exquisitely displayed wedding vows into an art-piece that is truly your own. We also have a wide selection of beautiful Tallits, from contemporary, hand-sewn designs to the time-honored wool with stripes. We have a range of sizes, too, all the way up to 60″ x 80″ that you can use for your Chuppah canopy! And if you’re looking to honor someone for an achievement or a contribution to your community, we have a whole section on our website dedicated to Awards and Presentation Pieces, from glass shofar sculptures to Tzedakah Boxes to Woman of Valor Platters. In addition, we sell a broad range of gift items, including Kiddush cups, Shabbat candlesticks, Havdalah sets, menorahs, mezuzahs, Jewish art, and jewelry.
Mezuzahs from Gallery Judaica
TWY: Buying a ketubah seems daunting and scary. Break it down for the Yentas and tell us: How does ordering a ketubah work and what’s the personalization process?
GJ: Ordering a ketubah is actually pretty simple, and involves three main steps: determining which ketubah text you need, choosing the ketubah design, and providing personalization information.
Step 1, Choosing the right ketubah text
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements have different thoughts about ketubah requirements, so we recommend that you ask your rabbi, cantor, or wedding officiant if they have a preference about the ketubah text. Depending on the ketubah and the artist, you typically have the choice of the following texts: Traditional Aramaic (Orthodox) with or without English, Conservative with the Lieberman Clause and English, Egalitarian/Reform in modern Hebrew and English, and variations of the Egalitarian texts which include interfaith, commitment vows, English only, gender neutral, and non-denominational. (Click here to see a more in-depth explanation of Ketubah texts.) Remember that any English or modern Hebrew text will vary from artist to artist, while the Orthodox and Conservative Aramaic texts are “set in stone” with little variation among artists.
Step 2, Choosing the design
After determining the text you need, you’ll choose the design of your ketubah. From Danny Azoulay and Enya Keshet’s finely detailed papercuts, to Nava Shoham’s colorful works of art, to Betsy Teutsch’s Judaic nature themes, to Amy Fagin’s swirling hues, our online Judaica store makes it easy to navigate through a wondrous array of ketubah artists and themes.
Step 3, Personalizing the contract-turned-work-of-art
Each ketubah text has blanks for your personal information. These blanks need to be filled in with your names and the date and location of your wedding. This can generally be done by your rabbi, if he or she is willing, or by us! Some ketubot are filled in with hand-calligraphy and some with computer print – it depends on which artist you choose. If you choose to have us do the personalization, we have a worksheet for you to fill in and send back to us.
Collage Ketubah by Robin Hall
TWY: What are some popular brands or artists?
GJ: We have such a long list of great artists, it’s hard to choose! Our most popular ketubah artists are Danny Azoulay and Enya Keshet, who specialize in finely detailed papercut ketubot, and Nava Shoham and Amy Fagin for more colorful works of art. Other popular artists for Jewish home necessities and wonderful Jewish gifts are Shardz, Quest Collection, Michael Aram, Gary Rosenthal, Keleman K4 Glassart, Dabbah and Nambe. If you are looking for a tallit, our most popular come from Reeva Shaffer and Argaman Embroidery.
TWY: When should an engaged couple start shopping for their ketubah?
GJ: We recommend that you start looking as soon as possible, and make your final purchase at least six weeks before your deadline. If you need a personalized ketubah in less than four weeks (or a non-personalized ketubah in less than two weeks) we can almost always make it happen, though we do head into rush-fees. These beautiful pieces of art take time to look perfect for you and it’s best to give the artist as much time as you can.
TWY: Can you confirm what kind of pen to use on the ketubah? (The Wedding Yentas did a whole article on this, but it’ll be good to hear it again from you, too!)
GJ: Because we work with so many artists who print on various paper types, it’s hard for us to make a general recommendation. A ball-point pen is your safest bet to avoid ink bleeding. With any other type, we recommend testing the pen first by making a tiny mark with it on the very edge of the back of the ketubah to make sure the ink doesn’t bleed. Make sure you mark it in a spot that will frame or trim out later. We know for certain that ketubot by Danny Azoulay are very happy with the Micron by Pigma Color Technologies – the ones that say “archival, suitable for acid free environments.” One of our trusted calligraphers recommends size 01. Once you know which artist you’re working with, we can find out which pen that artist recommends.
TWY: What other items do I need for my wedding in addition to the ketubah?
GJ: We have a wedding checklist to assist you in purchasing everything you need for your wedding!
1. Ketubah
2. Tallit
3. Breaking Glass
4. Kiddush Cup
5. Chuppah
6. Kippot (We sell kippot/yarmulkes individually at our store in Los Angeles. For bulk orders, see our wedding checklist)
Breaking Glasses from Gallery Judaica
TWY: Do you offer a wedding registry and how does a couple get started? What kinds of items should couples include in their registry?
GJ: We have paired up with MyRegistry to offer a gift registry for Jewish weddings and other occasions. This is a great way to let people know exactly what you would like to receive for your wedding, and avoid receiving duplicate gifts!
TWY: What if you are attending a wedding or an anniversary? What are some special gifts to purchase for a couple?
GJ: For weddings and anniversaries, we recommend gifts for the home. A mezuzah is a great gift for a couple who has just moved into a new home, as is a home blessing. A set of Shabbat candlesticks, a Kiddush cup, or a challah board is a piece of art that a couple will use every Friday night. A Hanukkah menorah or a Passover Seder Plate is something they will display in their home and use each year. You can also give the couple an apple and honey set for Rosh Hashanah or a Tzedakah box for giving to those in need.
TWY: Besides weddings, what other special events or holidays does Gallery Judaica accommodate?
GJ: Gallery Judaica accommodates almost every Jewish event! We have everything you need to celebrate the big holidays: Shabbat, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, and Passover. We have Awards and Presentation Pieces to honor individuals for achievements and contributions. We’ve got all your Bar and Bat Mitzvah necessities and gifts to give the young adult. We have baby blessings, blessings for the new home, and gifts for any occasion you can think of!
Honey Pot and Oval Apple Tray, Stainless Steel by Mary Jurek
TWY: Do you have a brick-and-mortar store and can fellow Yentas order online?
GJ: We have both!
Our brick-and-mortar store has been a Jewish resource in Los Angeles for almost 30 years. Come on by!
Gallery Judaica
1312 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90024
You can also order online. Feel free to e-mail (info@galleryjudaica.com) or call us (310-475-1242 or 888-311-3636) if you have any questions about merchandise or our services!
TWY: What’s one must-have Jewish household item that every couple should have?
GJ: There are two, actually: Mezuzahs and Shabbat candlesticks. If a Jewish family has no other piece of Judaica, there is almost always a Mezuzah on the front door, and we think it should be a beautiful one. We’ve also found that many people aren’t aware that mezuzahs can go on every doorway in the home (except closets and bathrooms), so there’s often room for one more when you’re looking to give a special gift. Also beautiful to display in your home are Shabbat candlesticks, which sanctify Shabbat every Friday night, and on the holidays, too!
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