Lifecycle Rituals

Photo of a person's hands touching a picture frame with a picture of an older man

Can I say the Mourner’s Kaddish for Non-Jewish Loved Ones?

Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser

Jewish people can say the Mourner's Kaddish for loved ones who are not Jewish. Many Jewish individuals have close family members from different backgrounds and religions and it is appropriate for Jews to observe mourning rituals for their loved ones.

Photo of two wedding rings sitting on top of a Ketubah

Lifecycle Rituals

Making a Jewish Ritual for my Divorce

Rabbi Lisa S. Greene

June 18, 2024

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.

Parenting

Melding Tradition and Innovation: Our Interfaith Toddler Naming Ceremony

Lindsey Neary

April 10, 2024

When I found out I was pregnant, my mind was immediately filled with questions and plans. When my son Logan was born at 34 weeks, many of those plans quickly changed.

Birth Rituals

Reform Mohalim Discuss Circumcision

Kate Bigam Kaput

January 24, 2024

North American Reform mohalim are trained and certified by the Brit Milah Board of Reform Judaism and supported by the National Organization of American Mohalim, (NOAM), which works to make the practice of b'rit milahan available, meaningful, and relevant Jewish lifecycle ritual for families.

an image of a family with baby sitting at a table with a menorah lite in from of them

Conversion

Hanukkah-Related Baby Names and their Meanings

Ellie Rudee

In Judaism, words are powerful; names are perhaps even more powerful. In the Torah, naming is an important theme related to identity and essence. If you find yourself looking for a name this Hanukkah, we hope this list inspired by the themes of the season will help.