THE FULL STORY
JEWISH LIFE CYCLE EVENTS
Just as the year is punctuated with designated holy days, fasts and feasts, so within Judaism our lives also contain special religious events and rituals to mark both happy and sad times. From birth to death, we find our religion replete with special occasions that bring the family and community together.

Brit Milah
“You and your descendants shall keep My covenant.” (Genesis 17:10)
Birth
“May the Eternal bless you and keep you.” (Numbers 6:24)
Mazal tov on the birth of your baby. You can have your baby blessed on a Shabbat morning up to six months after birth. It is a wonderful time to invite your friends and family to join you and the community as we bless your child, provide their Hebrew name and a certificate.
Please contact our Rabbi if you wish to discuss dates and the content of the ritual.
If you would like your baby boy to be circumcised, please contact the Beit Emanuel office 011 646 6170 who can provide you with a list of Progressive Mohalim (ritual circumcisers), who are also trained doctors
Bar and Bat-Mitzvahs
Bnei Mitzvah
“I give thanks for what I have learned of my Jewish heritage.” (Siddur Lev Chadash)

The bar/bat mitzvah is a child’s first public act of personal commitment to Judaism, an opportunity to demonstrate a mastery of the basic elements of the religion, such as knowledge of the central prayers of the service, the meaning of the liturgy, and the ability to read and understand a Torah portion. It is the culmination of many months of study, during which the entire family are expected to show their support by assisting with the learning and accompanying their child to Shabbat and festival services.
In the Progressive tradition, we do not discriminate against girls: they have the same opportunity as boys to lay claim to the Torah, to hold it, to recite the blessings and to read from it. For many girls, the privilege of celebrating a “proper” religious bat mitzvah is one of the key attractions of the Progressive service.
At Beit Emanuel we encourage children to begin their bnei mitzvah preparations at the age of ten, although younger children are welcome.
