Case Study: Welcoming Ceremony Into Judaism

 Brit Milah
 Welcoming ceremony into Judaism for a boy
 Includes circumcision
 Covenant of Circumcision
 Occurs 8 days after birth - VERY important, nothing interrupts
 Ritual objects used:
 Circumcision tools (anesthetic is possible according to some), tallit (prayer shawl), booklet with ceremony text, Elijah's Chair
 Time of ceremony – early in the morning
 Ritual setting – morning prayer service
 Parts of ceremony – welcomed, circumcision, naming, festive meal.
 Participants – moyel (person who does the circumcision "surgery"), parents, grandparents, Godparents, sandek (person given a role of honor) , rabbi
 Biblical roots are in
Could be a year in between the two. The parts used to be separate, but are now both included in the wedding ceremony.

 Wedding Ceremony
 Parts:
• Signing of Ketubah, or wedding contract
• Witnesses sign as well (way of being honored)
• Nissuin & Kiddushin
 Ritual objects;
• Huppah (canopy) – open on all 4 sides to show hospitality
• Models that the home is to be a Mikdash m'at (small sanctuary)
• Glass broken – to remind that the world is a broken place
• Rings
 Participants;
• Bride, groom, parents, witnesses who sign the ketubah
 Parents often stand under the huppah with the bridal party
 Does not have to be performed by a rabbi, only a knowledged Jew
 Reconstructionist Jews acknowledge same sex marriage
 Death and Mourning
 Death
 At the time of death a confessional prayer is said followed by the Shema (declaration of faith). It can be said on someone's
The deceased is often not left alone. Someone sits at the side repeating psalms.
 Jews do not embalm – keeps death natural as possible
 Body is prepared with a ritual washing called Taharah and is dressed (often) in a shroud. People related to the deceased to not do this. Volunteers take this responsibility. Women wash women, men wash men.
 Often, if buried in a prayer shawl, a corner is cut off
 Preferably buried within two days. In Israel, the deceased is buried the same day.
 No caskets are used in Israel, unless killed in combat.
 Idea is to be buried as natural as