Life Cycle Events

Jewish Life Cycle Events are a subset of rituals generally, which communicates and strengthens group values and norms, promotes family and group bonds, and provides public expressions for personal life passages.

From the moment we are born to the moment our lives end (and even in the days and months in which others anticipate and mourn our days and our deaths), Jewish traditions-ancient and evolving-provide ritual and ceremony, grounding the journey of human life and placing it in the content of covenant, belief, and history.

Here at Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El we join together during important events in the lives of our congregants.

WELCOMING A CHILD

Welcoming a baby girl into Judaism
The birth of a girl is celebrated and welcomed into the Jewish community by having the baby and her parents called to the for an aliyah after the birth. Following the aliyah, a short prayer is said and the girl's hebrew name in announced.

Brit Milah
According to Genesis, brit mila is the oldest ritual in Judaism. In Genesis 17, God commands Abraham to circumcise himself and his entire household as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. Today, we continue the practice of having a brit milah for boys at eight days old (if there is any doubt that circumcision will hurt the baby, the ceremony is postponed). Included in the ceremony is the Hebrew naming of the child. The child is now a member of Jewish people and deserves to be called by a Hebrew name.
There are many qualified mohelim in the Philadelphia area who are ritually and medically trained in performing circumcisions. For recommendations please contact Rabbi Witkovsky.

MARRIAGE 

Aufruf
An Aufruf is a pre-wedding Jewish custom for the bride and groom to be blessed with an aliyah, being called up to the Torah, during Shabbat services in the main sanctuary prior to their wedding. If you have any questions or to arrange the date for an Aufruf, please contact Sarahann Goldstein.

Wedding Ceremony & Celebration
A Jewish wedding ceremony may be held at TBH-BE with the coordination of Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky, Hazzan Eugene Rosner, and Sarahann Goldstein. A wedding may be held in the Sanctuary or Holocaust Memorial Chapel under our beautiful chuppah, hand-embroidered by members of the synagogue.

FUNERAL AND SHIVA

Our clergy will work with you to ensure that your funeral and shiva are as simple a process as possible. The clergy will work with the Funeral Home on the major arrangements. Our Hesed Network is here to provide added support during this time.