Debra Nussbaum Cohen

This "fifth denomination," founded in the 1960s by a Reform-ordained rabbi, describes itself as humanistic rather than atheistic.

Increasingly, Jewish families are adopting non-white babies.

The smallest and youngest of the so-called "big four" American Jewish denominations.

Long before the creation of contemporary ceremonies for girls, some Jewish communities had special customs.

The past three decades have seen the development of this ceremony with ancient roots and contemporary wings.

Despite the relative newness and great varieties of welcoming ceremonies for girls, a basic structure appears to have emerged.

Planning a ceremony when your family is multi-faith or multi-cultural.

Recent research on the formation of religious identity in interfaith families.

A 2001 study conducted by the Jewish Outreach Institute evaluates the efficacy of outreach programs.

Traditionalist Jews have many objections to new, or renewed, lifecycle ceremonies.