Life Events

Jewish tradition includes excellent ways to take note of things that happen in our lives. Many are joyous-bar and bat mitzvahs, welcoming a new baby, celebrating an anniversary. Some offer comfort such as funerals, hospice calls, sick visits.

At birth: A male child is usually welcomed into the covenant with a circumcision, a Brit Milah, although some families elect to not do a circumcision at this time. Girls are welcomed with a Bat Simcha, a naming ceremony.

Bar or Bat Mitzvah:  I have officiated at traditional Bar and Bat Mitzvahs for families that don’t have a synagogue connection. And sometimes, we need an innovative Bar or Bat Mitzvah if a child and family doesn’t fit in the traditional synagogue structure. You can read about an unusual Bar Mitzvah  story in JLife Magazine.

A New Home: Begin a new chapter in a new home with the right feelings and sentiments. We can install a Mezuzah, say some blessings, and start the new home off with the right spirit.

Weddings: I’ve got a whole page for these. Click here

Illness: Hospital visits, sickbed visits, hospice visits, whether regularly scheduled or in response to a special need, can add important comfort to the ill and to the family.

Funerals: Funerals vary from traditional burials in a cemetery, to ceremonies that accommodate the needs of interfaith families, and situations where the deceased has requested a different type of service.

Special Occasions: Many special occasion can be enhanced by using a Jewish traditional service or creating a new one to celebrate the joy, or to ease the fear and sadness.