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Simchas and the sorrows of life.

Birth

The new addition of a baby is a source of blessing and pride to a family!

Brit Milah - Welcoming a Boy into the Covenant

Brit Milah, the covenant of circumcision, was commanded by God to Abraham over 3,700 years ago. It has been carried out faithfully from generation to generation, even during times of religious and ethnic persecution when Jews were forced to practice their rituals in secret.

A brit milah ceremony takes place on the 8th day after birth (count the day of birth as day one, unless the baby was born after sundown). It can be held at the hospital, at home, or at the Temple. Traditionally, the circumcision is performed by a mohel who is trained in the surgical procedures of Brit Milah. Our rabbi works in partnership with a local Jewish doctor (an OB-GYN) who does the medical procedure and the rabbi conducts the religious ceremony.

Brit Bat - Welcoming a Girl into the Covenant

Traditionally, the only rite recognizing the birth of a daughter is her naming. However, over the past few decades ceremonies have been developed to welcome girls into the Jewish covenant. The Brit Bat and baby naming can take place anytime, however many parents also choose to celebrate the entry of their daughter into the covenant of our people on the eighth day. The Brit Bat ceremony can be held at home or at the Temple, either as a private celebration or during any Shabbat worship service.

having or had a baby?

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B'nai Mitzvah

Becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a wonderful and joyous occasion, not only for the young person and his or her family, but for the entire community. It connects us to the Jewish past, but is also a gateway to a young person’s future. Becoming a young Jewish adult is a momentous event, a joyful rite of passage, a simcha in the deepest sense of the word.

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah involves your entire family and our congregation in supporting your son or daughter as they begin a life committed to Jewish values, a life of Torah, spiritual fulfillment and deeds of loving kindness that heal our world. In becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah, our children demonstrate willingness to study and celebrate Judaism within our community.

We currently are offering an Adult B'nai Mitzvah Course that began in February 2023. For more information, please contact Rabbi's Executive Assistant, Tovah Feld HERE.

If you are interested in more information about becoming bar or bat mitzvah, please contact us here.

If you are becoming bar/bat mitzvah at temple beth-el,
click here TO ACCESS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION
FOR B'NAI MITZVAH FAMILIES.

Weddings

The Torah teaches that, "A person who does not marry is not a complete person." (Leviticus 34a) Finding your soul mate is a beautiful and rare occurrence. We are here to work with you to create a ceremony that is true to whom you are as a couple and to the Jewish tradition. From pre-marital counseling to the usage of the Temple as your venue, we are here to welcome you, teach you, coach you and celebrate with you at this joyous time.

Rabbi requires all couples to engage in pre-marital counseling as part of the wedding preparation process. More information about this can be found at www.prepare-enrich.com.

Interfaith & LGBTQ Marriages

We celebrate that all are able to be legally married. Our rabbi is dedicated to assist couples who wish to have a Jewish wedding. Because Reform Judaism has a long standing commitment to equal rights for all citizens regardless of sexual orientation our Temple supports our rabbi's dedication to enabling all Jews to celebrate their significant life cycle events within our community. Please contact the rabbi directly to explore these issues.

Resource from our rabbi emeritus:
A Bridge To Holiness: Planning Your Wedding

Planning a wedding? click here to get us info

BEREAVEMENT

Temple families receive support that recognizes the sanctity and dignity of human life in all its stages. To those nearing death and their loved ones, our Rabbi, Jenn Mangold, and Director of Pastoral Care, Cantor Pamela Siskin, provide comfort, spiritual guidance for difficult end-of-life decisions, and can help with mortuary and cemetery arrangements. They can also be available to officiate at funerals, to lead shivah minyan services at family homes, and to officiate at unveilings.

If you need assistance in any of these ways, please click below or contact Tovah Feld, Executive Assistant to the Rabbi. You may also contact David C. Gross Funeral Homes who serve our community with distinction, as they have for many years at (727) 381-4911.

Cremation

It is a mitzvah to bury the dead with all proper respect. Jewish tradition defines this mitzvah as the burial of the body in the earth. While cremation is certainly contrary to traditional Judaism, there is actually no clear-cut prohibition of cremation in Jewish literature. The Reform rabbinate seeks to encourage the traditional practice of burial in the earth whenever possible. However, the higher value, in our opinion and practice, is to ensure that every Jew is honored with a Jewish funeral service, and therefore Rabbi Torop will conduct a funeral or memorial service in these circumstances.