Lifecycle Rituals

wedding rings on a ketubah, or marriage certificate

For a Wedding Anniversary

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." God of all generations, we give thanks for the blessings that have graced our marriage, and we look back upon the day of our union with thankfulness. So may this joy be with us always: our way of life, loving and good, as we help each other bear burdens and as we share our joys.

Lifecycle Rituals

At the End of the Mourning Period

Your sun will not go down again, your moon will not depart; for Adonai will be your light for ever, and your days of mourning ended.

Death and Mourning

On Returning Home after a Funeral

In Jewish tradition, a mourner is identified as being a child, spouse, sibling, or parent of the deceased. Others, however, may also wish to use the following prayers

Lifecycle Rituals

Hanging a Mezuzah

This ancient symbol speaks to us of our need to live by the words of Adonai. We affix the mezuzah to the doorposts of this house with the hope that it will always remind us of our duties to one another as members of the Household of Israel. May the divine spirit fill this house--the spirit of love and kindness and consideration for all people.

Lifecycle Rituals

Upon Retirement

As I look back over the years that have gone, I ask to see life as a continuum from youth to age: What lies before me now?