Dear TEE community,
Clergy sometimes jokingly refer to life cycle rituals as “hatch, match, and dispatch.” While birth, marriage, and death remain central to our celebrations, Jewish tradition has evolved to recognize many other significant moments throughout our lives.
The bar mitzvah ceremony emerged in the Middle Ages, and the first bat mitzvah took place in 1922. In recent decades, Jewish ritual has continued to expand, creating meaningful ceremonies for the milestones of modern life. The website www.ritualwell.org offers rituals for voting, leaving for college, retirement, and countless other moments that deserve recognition and blessing.
This week, our congregation will participate in this rich, evolving tradition as we celebrate two special occasions: honoring longtime member Marty Nemeroff on his 90th birthday and recognizing our community’s graduates.
These celebrations remind us that every stage of life holds sacred potential. By marking both traditional and contemporary milestones, we strengthen the bonds within our community and affirm that each person’s journey—from childhood achievements to the wisdom of nine decades—deserves to be witnessed, celebrated, and blessed. We invite you to join us in honoring these meaningful moments that connect us to one another and to the continuing story of our tradition.
Rabbi Drorah Setel