Lifecycle Rituals

Photo of an older man standing behind a Torah scroll

Becoming B’nei Mitzvah at Any Age

Kate Bigam Kaput
Terms like "bar mitzvah," "bet mitzvah," and "bat mitzvah" typically evoke images of teens reading from the Torah and formally taking their place within the Jewish community. But many Reform congregations offer adult b'nei mitzvah classes, enabling people to participate in this ritual later in life.
A rabbi holding a baby

Welcoming Baby

Rabbi Jen Gubitz
A brand-new baby is an astonishing being! How a tiny human could emerge from a mere bundle of cells, and the simple fact that any human being exists earthside, is truly remarkable.
Ilene goldman's wedding, bride and groom standing under the chuppah

My Father’s Tallit

Ilene S. Goldman
As a child snoop, I was well acquainted with the contents of my parents’ dresser drawers. This came in handy often, like the night before a trip when my mom panicked because she couldn’t find her passport.
Photo of two wedding rings sitting on top of a Ketubah

Making a Jewish Ritual for my Divorce

Rabbi Lisa S. Greene
In the weeks leading up to my civil divorce, I delved into Jewish tradition to see how I could mark it Jewishly. I'd been married under a chuppah with the exquisite blessings of our tradition; simply marking my divorce in the Cook County courthouse was not going to suffice.