Life Cycle Events
BRIT MILAH
The Torah commands us to circumcise our newborn sons on the eighth day of their lives. This powerful ceremony celebrates new life, and also brings our sons into Judaism’s sacred covenant. Rabbi Becca and Rabbi David can put you in touch with a Mohel (ritual circumciser), help the parents understand the ceremony, and co-officiate, along with the Mohel.
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SIMCHAT BAT / BABY NAMING
We celebrate the great blessing of a newborn daughter with a ceremony that brings her into the covenant, and confers upon her a Hebrew name. Rabbi Becca and Rabbi David can help you think through and design this ceremony, which can take place either at home, or at the synagogue, on a Shabbat, or any day the Torah is read.
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B'NEI MITZVAH
B'nei Mitzvah students are moving from childhood to adulthood, from learning to be responsible to being responsible. As a son or daughter of the commandments, you commit yourself to a proud membership in our ancient people.
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WEDDING
Rabbi Becca and Rabbi David can help you prepare for this wonderful, joyous occasion, by teaching bride and groom the meaning of the ceremony, from Ketubah (marriage document), to Kiddushin (Engagement) to Huppah (Marriage Canopy) to Nissuin (marriage ceremony) to breaking the glass. We also counsel you, offering Jewish wisdom in preparation for a life dedicated to love and companionship. We also work with you in designing the ceremony, providing our knowledge and experience. Finally, it is legal in all states for same sex couples to wed. Rabbi Becca and Rabbi David are delighted to serve the LGBTQ community. The ceremony does not differ from other weddings, with language changes to celebrate and affirm the loving companions being married. For example, in the Sheva Brachot (The 7 Wedding Blessings), "bridegroom and bride" becomes "re'im ahuvim," loving companions, or bride and bride, or groom and groom.
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HEALING
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We invite you to send us the name(s) of loved ones who are facing the challenge of illness, that we may support them, and you, by inclusion in our communal Mi Shebeirach prayers.
The Mi Shebeirach prayer is one of the central Jewish prayers for those who are facing the challenge of illness. The pray includes pleas for both physical and spiritual healing within the community of others facing illness. Traditionally, the Mi Shebeirach is said in synagogue when the Torah is read. In modern times, the Mi Shebeirach is often said by professional health caregivers, patients, and loved ones at various times during treatment and recovery from illness of all sorts.
YAHRZEIT
You are invited and encouraged to let us know the name and yahrzeit of your beloved ones who have departed from us. We will honor their memory by announcing their name at our synagogue during services. May you be comforted among all the mourners of Israel.
In Jewish tradition, when the year of mourning is over, mourners are expected to return to a fully normal life. There are several occasions each year when our loved ones who have passed on are memorialized. The most significant of these is yahrzeit, the anniversary of the death, which is observed according to the Hebrew calendar. As is the case in all Jewish holy days, yahrzeit observance begins at night. A 24-hour candle is lit and one may attend synagogue to recite the Kaddish [the memorial prayer]. It is traditional to avoid attending any celebrations or parties on the day of yahrzeit, and some people fast on that day.