Whether at times of celebration or in moments of despair, most people seek to commemorate life’s passages with an appropriate ceremony. Rabbi Jeffrey Falick and the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism offer a variety of life-cycle observances that draw upon meaningful Jewish and other cultural traditions.

 

Every single human culture marks important transitions. Life cycle ceremonies help families and individuals express their belonging to family, friends and community. They connect us to beloved traditions and provide an opportunity to reflect upon the meaning of our lives.

 

Humanistic Judaism maintains that all culture is created by humans and must serve human needs. For this reason, Humanistic rabbis and congregations display considerable flexibility in fashioning observances tailored to the needs of those who are celebrating or facing life’s most difficult moments.

 

Guided by our human-centered philosophy, Humanistic Jewish ceremonies created by our rabbis do not employ “God-language.” Familiar blessings are re-composed to reflect this value. In some cases, friends or family may participate, offering readings, thoughts or reflections of their own that do not follow these guidelines. In most cases, this is not a problem because Humanistic Judaism also values freedom of conscience.These issues are comfortably addressed when preparing a service with Rabbi Falick.

 

Additionally, while these ceremonies can take place anywhere, you may also find that the Temple is an ideal location for your gatherings of friends and families.

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