Birth
Brit Milah (also known as a bris) is the ceremony that welcomes a baby boy into the Jewish community through the ritual of circumcision. In this ritual, the parents confirm their family’s participation in the eternal commitment between God and the Jewish people and their affirmation of Jewish life for another generation. The ceremony can be held in the home or at the synagogue.
Brit Bat is the ceremony that welcomes a baby girl into the covenant between the Jewish people and God. There is no set liturgy and unlike the brit milah for a boy, there are no rules about when or where. A brit bat on Shabbat can take place during worship services either on Friday night. The baby is brought up to the bima where the rabbi blesses the baby and the parents speak about her namesake(s). It is customary to contribute toward the Oneg Shabbat or to make a contribution to the synagogue in the baby’s honor.
To explore ways of celebrating the birth of a child or grandchild, contact Daphne Parker at 305.667.5657.
Consecration
The Consecration service is a tradition that was developed by the Reform movement to mark the beginning of a child’s formal Jewish education. Children are eligible for Consecration when they begin study in our religious school. For many students this will be in kindergarten, but students are encouraged to participate at any grade. The Consecration ceremony is held at the Shabbat service and coincides with our celebration of Simchat Torah or of Chanukah. Prior to this service, children receive a small Torah and are encouraged to decorate it with a personalized cover made with a parent. Older students receive a copy of Mishkan Tefilah. At the service, the children come to the front of the congregation and sing songs about the Torah and recite the Shema.
Interested in registering your child for religious school?
Please contact the Shir Ami Religious school office at 305.667.5657
B'nai Mitzvah
Celebrating a b’nai mitzvah at Temple Judea is a product of study, worship experiences and acts of gemilut chasadim. Students who have fulfilled all of the religious educational requirements and have Hebrew proficiency lead the congregation in worship on either a Shabbat morning or Shabbat afternoon service. Children must be enrolled in our religious school program and their family must be in good standing as members of the congregation in order to celebrate a b’nai mitzvah at Temple Judea. Preparing for a b’nai mitzvah involves several components. Each child will chant Torah and haftarah. As part of the preparation for the celebration, students are involved in one-on-one tutoring with Gaby Enser-Tangir, our fantastic B’nai Mitzvah Mentor, as well as meetings and discussion with either Rabbi Goldberg or Rabbi Siegal. In addition, all students complete a mitzvah project. Any questions about the B’nai Mitzvah program can be directed to Daphne Parker at 305.667.5657.
To learn more about our B’nai Mitzvah program, check out our Parents’ Guide Book.
Kabbalat Torah (Confirmation)
Recognizing that Bar Mitzvah, although significant, does not in modern society mark a child’s becoming an adult, the ceremony of Kabbalat Torah allows girls and boys to affirm their commitment to Judaism as a consequence of a personal decision. Kabbalat Torah encourages students to think about issues in their lives and in society as a whole, through the lens of Jewish tradition and Liberal Jewish values. In addition to classes of study with the rabbis and educators at Temple Judea, Kabbalat Torah also includes a group trip to Washington DC to participate in the L’Taken seminar hosted by the Religious Action Center. As a result, many of our students cement lasting social relationships with fellow students during these years. Kabbalat Torah culminates in a Shabbat evening ceremony created jointly by the students and the Senior Staff. Thanks to the Temple Judea Endowment Committee for its ongoing support of the L’Taken program.
Weddings
Weddings are a joyous and spiritual opportunity in Jewish life. Temple Judea is honored to host a wedding in our sanctuary or on our grounds, and our clergy also officiate off-site. Please contact Daphne Parker in the rabbinic office for more information at D.parker@judeagables.org
Our clergy team stand ready to help prepare couples not only for the wedding but also for the marriage. We offer (free of cost) premarital counseling, utilizing a national program that helps prepare couples for the challenges of marriage. We also are happy to provide copies of “The Bride and Groom Handbook” which lists the basic traditions and practices of Jewish weddings.
We also strongly suggest that couples engage in premarital testing for Jewish genetic diseases. The University of Miami offers support for this important endeavor, 305-243-4524 (the Victor Center for Jewish Genetic Diseases).
In Time of Grief
Our synagogue community is here for you even at this most difficult of times. Guided by the sensitivity and profundity of Jewish tradition, we want to make these sad days feel more bearable because of our presence and the wisdom of Jewish practice. To reach a rabbi during this time, please call the Temple Judea office at 305.667.5657. There is always an on-call number available if the office is closed.
Please use the following information as an important resource in getting through the days ahead.