EP. 55 - Michael Shapiro: How the Ketubah Became a Modern Canvas

Update: 2025-11-30

Description

Michael Shapiro has spent more than thirty years immersed in the world of ketubot — the art, the history, and the stories behind them. As the founder of Ketubah.com, he has worked closely with both established and emerging artists, helping shape the evolution of contemporary ketubah design while staying grounded in the tradition that makes the ketubah such a meaningful part of Jewish life. In our conversation, Michael reflects on how he entered this niche world, what continues to inspire him, and why the ketubah has become a powerful canvas for Jewish creativity.

About Michael:

Michael Shapiro is the founder and CEO of Ketubah.com, the world’s leading publisher of artistic Jewish wedding contracts, and a worldwide lecturer on historical and contemporary ketubot. For three decades he has helped shape the development of contemporary ketubah art, working with both influential and emerging ketubah artists. His innovations include archival quality on-demand Ketubah printing and laser cutting, and an online tool that makes it easy to submit and verify the Hebrew date, location and names. Most recently, he launched HebrewNamer.com, a free inclusive resource for exploring, selecting and storing Hebrew names "from cradle to grave". Ketubah Renaissance is his first book.

Ketubah Renaissance (Book and Exhibition): https://ketubahrenaissance.com/

HebrewNamer: https://hebrewnamer.com/

IG: instagram.com/ketubahmichael

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578844965787

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-shapiro-ketubah

Creatives Michael thinks you should know:

Alon Nashman: https://ketubahrenaissance.com/

Michael Leventhal: https://michaelleventhal.co.uk/

Sheila Baslaw: https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/sheila-baslaw

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