Lifecycle Events
Baby Namings
Temple Beth El provides COVID-safe private ceremonies that welcome and bless your new child into our Temple Beth El family. We are also inviting families back into our sanctuary and outdoor courtyard to participate in these meaningful celebrations.
Did you know there are numerous prayers and liturgies to draw upon that express the gift of parenthood? There are long-standing customs in regard to selecting a Hebrew name. The Cantor meets one-on-one with parents to craft an individualized service for their baby and select a Hebrew name. Please contact her for more information.
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
Bar/Bat Mitzvah is translated as “son” or “daughter” of the commandment. Today, the Bar/Bat mitzvah ceremony is one of only a few public rites available to pre-teens to mark the passage from childhood to adulthood. Becoming Bar/Bat mitzvah is to become a link in an unbroken chain of a rich heritage that insures from one generation to the next, L’Dor Vador, that Jewish learning and tradition will thrive. The ceremony of publicly standing up in front of a congregation to read/chant from the Torah for the first time is to say the least, character building. Preparation for a Bar/Mitzvah is demanding and requires a lot of families.
At Temple Beth El the congregation comes together to support the Bar/Bat Mitzvah student and their family. Time and time again we have had the privilege to witness remarkable transformation in our youth as they embark on a journey of self-discovery. Your child will be guided every step along the way to make the most of their experience
Weddings
Cantor Bruner facilitates traditional and interfaith weddings because Temple Beth El is a reform congregation steeped in tradition but contemporary in its practice. We are known for our chamish (friendly) and welcoming ways. Jewish tradition has much wisdom to offer about finding a partner, advice that is just as relevant to those who intermarry. Rabbi Knopf says, “People of different backgrounds can be oriented to faith in harmonious ways,” and “can sharpen each other in myriad ways.”
Renewal of Vows
Cantor Bruner can offer ideas for a unique and intimate service to help you look back on the day of your union, and look forward together in joy and gratitude.
Funerals
Judaism has much to teach us about the landscape of mourning.The death of a loved one can be overwhelming and confusing. Some mourners must make many sudden decisions that they feel ill-equipped to handle. Our tradition focuses on comforting the bereaved and provides many resources to aid in the healing process. Cantor Bruner is available to all temple members suffering the loss of a loved one in their time of need