Jewish Ceremonies

Making celebrations ethical and joyous.

The ceremony of the "redemption" of the first-born son.

Jewish lifecycle rituals reflect a communal orientation, the democratic nature of traditions, the relationship between the biological and the social, and the inevitability of evolution and change.

Events in the "calendar" of the lifecycle are private, yet connect us to the "unseen presences" of missing family members and our entire people throughout history.

A selection of laws and stories about brit milah.

Covenant, conversion, custom, and circumcision.

Redemption of the first-born son is an act of gratitude and humility.

How Jewish thinkers over the ages have explained the importance of ritual circumcision.

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

An interview with the author of the only book on welcoming ceremonies for Jewish girls reveals much about contemporary Jewish life.