Life Cycle Events

 

Baby Naming

We celebrate the blessing of a newborn child with a ceremony that brings the newborn into the covenant, and confers upon the baby a Hebrew name. Ritual & Liturgy committee members can help you think through and design this ceremony, which can take place either in your home or at Kadima House.

B'nei Mitzvah

Kadima's two-year B'nei Mitzvah program, spanning the sixth and seventh grades, gives students the opportunity to delve deeply into Jewish learning. They study Torah, some different approaches to Biblical criticism, Jewish spirituality, the structure and purposes of Jewish liturgy, and they debate ethical issues. They compare Kadima-created liturgy to other liturgical styles. In the first year, students focus on Torah related to “Mitzvah themes” in their required 18 Mitzvot program. In their second year, students focus on the Torah portions that fall on their Bat or Bar Mitzvah dates. B'nei Mitzvah services are individualized for each student and her or his family'; therefore each Kadima B'nei Mitzvah service has a distinct, memorable flavor all its own.

Adult B'nei Mitzvah and Conversion

Kadima offers adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation and conversion classes.

Funeral

Our tradition offers several powerful end of life rituals – Kriah (tearing of a garment), Levayah (funeral procession), Hesped (eulogy), Kevurah (burial) and Shiva (seven days of mourning). Ritual & Liturgy committee members can help you implement these and other rituals. We can help you find someone who will perform the funeral ceremony, and we will help you understand and implement other meaningful Jewish mourning practices.