Life Cycle Events

Informative Articles & Videos.

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Tefillin: A Primer

This thorough article from Aish.com outlines everything you need to know about tefillin, or phylacteries, the ritual prayer object worn during weekday

How the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Child Participates in the Service

This informative article briefly describes the different roles bar/bat mitzvah celebrants may take on in the service, depending on his/her abilities, as well

Entering Adulthood: The Spiritual Significance of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah

This thoughtful article from Chabad.org gives parents tips on how to transform the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration from a fun party to a meaningful

The Laws of Bar Mitzvah

This informative article, written by Rabbi Aryeh Citron of Chabad.org, presents many of the Jewish laws associated with planning a Bar

Today I Am a Man: Thoughts on Contemporary Male Identity for Bar Mitzvah Boys

In this thought-provoking article, Rabbi Daniel S. Brenner explores what it means to be a Jewish man in contemporary American society, encouraging

Toward a Meaningful Bat Mitzvah

This link opens up Toward a Meaningful Bat Mitzvah, a 46 page booklet emphasizing the significance of encouraging young women to be

What Non-Jews Should Know About a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

An appendix from the book “Putting God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child’s

The History & Evolution of the Bat Mitzvah

This excerpt from A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven by Renewal Rabbi Arthur O. Waskow provides a survey of the

What Is the Haftarah, and Why Do We Read It?

This informative article by Rabbi Peretz Rodman provides a thorough introduction to the Haftarah, the weekly reading from the Prophets often recited

Reform Bar/Bat Mitzvah FAQ

This thorough article answers many Frequently Asked Questions about the Bar/Bat Mitzvah coming-of-age ritual, including questions about the origins and

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guide

This 7 page long guide from Aish.com outlines everything you need to know about the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony. Rabbi Shraga Simmons introduces

Baruch Shepetarani: Traditional Bar Mitzvah Blessing from Father

This post provides the Hebrew, English and transliterated text for the ‘baruch shepetarani’ blessing, traditionally recited by fathers on the

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Basics

This introductory article from Judaism 101 explains the Bar/Bat Mitzvah basics, including an explanation of the terms, the meaning behind this Jewish

The Bar Mitzvah as a Milestone for Engagement and Accountability

In this short video, Dr. Rachael Turkienicz introduces the Bar Mitzvah coming of age ritual in Judaism, with an emphasis on

A Bat Mitzvah Girl Describes the Jewish Rite of Passage

In this introductory video, 12-year old Emily describes her recent Bat Mitzvah at an Orthodox Synagogue, while comparing her experience with that of

What to Expect at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah

This short animated video provides guests with some basic information about what to expect at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah and how

How to Plan a Jewish Wedding: A Checklist

This informative article provides a checklist of 7 things a couple should consider when planning their Jewish wedding, ranging from how

Jewish Weddings 101: The Traditions, Rituals and Liturgy

This informative article provides a basic outline of the Jewish wedding ceremony, including the rituals, customs and liturgy performed before, during,

Why We Break the Glass at Jewish Weddings

This minute long animated video provides three different reasons for the custom of smashing a glass under the chuppah at a Jewish

What to Expect at a Jewish Wedding Ceremony

This minute long animated video briefly introduces various Jewish wedding traditions, including the “ketubah” (wedding contract), the seven blessings under the “chuppah” (wedding canopy),

The Role of Wine in Jewish Tradition

This excerpt, from an article by Rabbi Maurice Lamm, explains the integral place of wine in Sabbath, festival, and wedding

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Learn How.

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Tefillin: A Primer

This thorough article from Aish.com outlines everything you need to know about tefillin, or phylacteries, the ritual prayer object worn during weekday

How To Put on Tefillin

In this 4 minute long instructional video, Rabbi Steven Exler provides a step-by-step guide to putting on tefillin, or phylacteries, which are

12 Ways to Make Your Bat Mitzvah Meaningful

This post suggests a list of 12 ways a Bat Mitzvah girl can make her Bat Mitzvah more meaningful, including

How to Plan a Special Needs Bar/Bat Mitzvah

This important article provides tips to help parents, educators, rabbis and students work as a team to give children with special

How to Choose a Mitzvah Project for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

This thorough article provides tips, suggestions and resources for adding a social action component to a Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration in a

Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah Gift Guide

This thorough article provides tips for how to choose a gift for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrant that is appropriate for the

Learn to Recite Aliyah Blessings & Read Torah and Haftarah With Trope

This interactive online tool from Chabad.org allows you to learn how to chant the traditional aliyah blessings, Torah portion and

Pre-Bar-Mitzvah Checklist

This post offers a basic checklist to assist in preparing for the religious aspects of a traditional Bar Mitzvah celebration, from

Orthodox Bar Mitzvah Honoree List

This article from Chabad.org contains a list of all of the opportunities to honor family and friends during a Shabbat morning synagogue

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Trope, Blessings & Readings in Multiple Traditions

This website is an excellent resource for Bar/Bat Mitzvah students looking to learn the traditional Orthodox tunes (trope), blessings and readings

Toward a Meaningful Bat Mitzvah

This link opens up Toward a Meaningful Bat Mitzvah, a 46 page booklet emphasizing the significance of encouraging young women to be

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guide

This 7 page long guide from Aish.com outlines everything you need to know about the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony. Rabbi Shraga Simmons introduces

Bar Mitzvah Etiquette Video: Religious Rituals & Dress Code

This 13 minute long video from Temple B’rith Kodesh (Reform) explains the rituals and etiquette of Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies to parents, students,

What to Expect at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah

This short animated video provides guests with some basic information about what to expect at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah and how

Choosing a Wedding Date: Auspicious & Forbidden Dates in the Hebrew Calendar

This article from Chabad.org presents a list of all of the dates in the Hebrew calendar that are considered auspicious, not recommended, or

How to Plan a Jewish Wedding: A Checklist

This informative article provides a checklist of 7 things a couple should consider when planning their Jewish wedding, ranging from how

A Traditional Jewish Marriage Ceremony (Outline & Texts)

This article provides an outline of the entire traditional Jewish marriage ceremony, including explanations of the various customs as well

Halachic Prenuptial Agreement

This post includes information about the Halachic Prenuptial Agreement, including a short video from ORA: The Organization for the Resolution of Agunot encouraging

Dance the Hora: How to do the Jewish Celebration Dance

This minute long animated video teachers viewers how to dance the “hora,” an ecstatic Israeli circle dance with roots in Eastern European folk tradition,

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Traditions.

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Torah Blessings for Interfaith Partners at Their Child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah

These blessings to be recited before and after the reading of the Torah were developed to honor parents of non-Jewish backgrounds

Reform Blessing Before Placing Tallit on Bar/Bat Mitzvah

This post presents a blessing to be said before placing the tallit (ritual prayer shawl) on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, beginning

Passing the Torah Scroll Ceremony

This 42 second long video presents an example of a typical “passing the scroll” ceremony, wherein the Torah scroll is symbolically passed

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Trope, Blessings & Readings in Multiple Traditions

This website is an excellent resource for Bar/Bat Mitzvah students looking to learn the traditional Orthodox tunes (trope), blessings and readings

Reform Blessings Before & After the Reading of the Haftarah (Text & Audio)

This post presents an audio recording and the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts of the blessings recited before and after

Prayer Recited by a Bat Mitzvah Girl According to Italian Ritual

This post presents the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts of the prayer recited by the Bat Mitzvah girl, according to

Baruch Shepetarani: Traditional Bar Mitzvah Blessing from Father

This post provides the Hebrew, English and transliterated text for the ‘baruch shepetarani’ blessing, traditionally recited by fathers on the

Bar Mitzvah Etiquette Video: Religious Rituals & Dress Code

This 13 minute long video from Temple B’rith Kodesh (Reform) explains the rituals and etiquette of Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies to parents, students,

Ketubah Texts from Across the Jewish Spectrum

This 22 page long PDF document includes a variety of different Ketubah (marriage contract) texts in Hebrew and English from

A Traditional Jewish Marriage Ceremony (Outline & Texts)

This article provides an outline of the entire traditional Jewish marriage ceremony, including explanations of the various customs as well

Halachic Prenuptial Agreement

This post includes information about the Halachic Prenuptial Agreement, including a short video from ORA: The Organization for the Resolution of Agunot encouraging

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Music.

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Elohim Hai: Moroccan Bar Mitzvah Piyut

This 6:36 minute long video presents Rabbi David Kadoch singing two versions of a traditional liturgical Bar Mitzvah song, the first according

Bat Mitzvah Girls Perform “L’Dor Vador” During “Passing the Scroll” Ceremony

This video presents two Bat Mitzvah girls performing “L’Dor Vador” (From Generation to Generation), a song composed by Josh Nelson

Debbie Friedman: The World of Your Dreams (Andy’s Bar Mitzvah Song)

This post presents the lyrics to “The World of Your Dreams (Andy’s Bar Mitzvah Song),” composed by beloved Jewish American

If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem: A Carlebach Chuppah Song

This audio recording features Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach singing his original melody for “If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem,” a Hebrew song often sung under

Yaakov Shwekey: Tefilat Kallah – The Bride’s Prayer (English + Hebrew)

With onscreen Hebrew, English and transliterated lyrics, this video by the well-known Jewish musical entertainer, Yaakov Shwekey, presents an emotive rendition