Life Cycle Events

TBJ loves to celebrate the lives of its community members! Baby Naming/Brit Milah, Consecration, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, Conversion, Marriage – the community loves to say Mazel Tov! Our Tree of Life adorns the back wall of the sanctuary, with leaves donated to commemorate such happy occasions. TBJ families also gather in support and sorrow when death occurs and the comfort of family and friends is most needed.

Brit Milah

The Torah commands us to circumcise our newborn sons on the eighth day of their new lives. This powerful ceremony celebrates new life, and also brings our sons into Judaism’s sacred covenant. Our Rabbi can put you in touch with a Mohel (ritual circumciser), help the parents understand the ceremony, and co-officiate, along with the Mohel.

Baby Naming/Simchat Bat

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. Our Rabbi can help you think through and design this ceremony, which can take place either at home, or at the synagogue, during a Shabbat service or on another day.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are moving from childhood to adulthood, from learning to be responsible to being responsible. As son or daughter of the commandments, you commit yourself to be proud membership in our ancient people. Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a regular part of the religious school education.

Wedding

Our Rabbi can help you prepare for this wonderful, joyous occasion, by teaching couples the meaning of the ceremony, from ketubah (marriage document), to n’suin (engagement) to chuppah (marriage canopy) to kiddushin (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. Our Rabbi and our Cantor both perform same-sex ceremonies and interfaith ceremonies under certain circumstances.

Funeral

Our tradition offers several powerful end of life rituals – kriah (tearing of a garment), levayah (funeral procession), hesped (eulogy), kevurah (burial) and shivah (seven days of mourning). Our Rabbi will instruct you on these and other rituals. We can also perform the funeral ceremony, and help you understand and implement other meaningful Jewish mourning practices.

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