Life Cycle Support

From birth through the time of death, our community supports you during your most exciting and most difficult moments of life.  Jewish ritual embraces us at key moments—moments of transition in our lives. Celebration and recognition of life cycle events enrich and strengthen our connection to our tradition, personal histories, to our families, and to our community.

We encourage our members to call on the services of our clergy for all life cycle events.

- New Babies/New Parents
- B'Nai Mitzvah
- Marriage
- For the Ailing
- At the Time of Death

New Babies/New Parents

We want to celebrate with you! At Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, our greatest joy is to celebrate your smachot (or joyous occasions) and the welcoming of a new baby to your family is one such occasion. We offer several ways to celebrate the birth of a new baby.

Brit Milah

When a Jewish son turns eight days old, he is circumcised in a beautiful ritual that inducts the child into the Jewish covenant (brit or bris) with God.  The ritual dates back to the Torah when Abraham is circumcised as part of the covenant that he makes with God.  As with most Jewish rituals, the Brit Milah is usually followed by a meal.

Pidyon HaBen

Bring your family together on the 31st day of your baby's life.  If the baby is not a Kohane or a Levi, the child can be "redeemed" in this ancient ceremony where the parents give a token donation to a Kohane, prayers are said, and, of course, food is eaten!

Baby Naming

When a baby daughter is born, she can actually have two rituals to celebrate her birth!  The first is the baby naming.  Parents are invited up to the bima for an aliyah during the service, after which your baby's name will be announced.  If you prefer to have a baby naming in the Conservative - Traditional service, only the father comes to the bima for the aliyah.

Simchat Bat — "The Happiness of the Daughter"

This ritual, begun by Sephardic Jews (Jews from Western Europe and Yemen) but now practiced by many Ashkenazic Jews (Jews of Eastern European descent), celebrates the daughter in prayer and poem, followed by, of course, a meal with the whole family.

If you are interested in celebrating with us, please let us know about the birth of your baby by clicking here, or contact Carrie in the office at 215-677-1600, or e-mail office@shaareshamayim.org.

B'nai Mitzvah

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony is an indication that the child has come to the age of Jewish majority.  That means that he/she is now responsible for his/her own observance of the Mitzvot.  Our goal at the Congregations of Shaare Shamayim is to not only create a spiritual and fun ritual upon which the child will look back on with fondness for many years, but to encourage the child and their whole family to continue learning about Judaism even after their Bar/Bat mitzvah.

This will help prepare children for active participation in Jewish life.  Bar/Bat Mitzvah is an important step in this process, in addition to being a milestone in the life of the child and his/her family.  Experiencing this coming-of-age ceremony enhances and adds meaning to the entire process.

For this reason, the 7th grade year centers on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah in terms of its meaning and significance, its ceremony and rituals, and the implications of becoming an adult member of the Jewish community.

Marriage

At Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, we are proud to create joyful and beautiful weddings steeped in the tradition but with a modern flavor.  Each couple will meet with the rabbi several times before the wedding so that the rabbi can get to know the couple, thus insuring an intimate feeling throughout the ceremony.

If you and your significant other feel ready to be wed at Shaare Shamayim—please feel free to contact us!

For the Ailing

No one at CSS has to face illness alone.  We are here to comfort you and your family and help you in any way we can when illness strikes.  Please let us know when you or a loved one is ill by calling or e-mailing the office at 215-677-1600 or office@shaareshamayim.org.

A Mi Sheberach is a public prayer or blessing for a loved one in need often recited in synagogue when the Torah is being read.  

If you would like our clergy to recite a Mi Sheberach for someone you know, click here or email their English and Hebrew name to office@shaareshamayim.org.
 

At the Time of Death

At Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, we will be here for you when tragedy strikes.  From officiating at the funeral to setting up shiva minyans to helping with food—our clergy and community will make sure no one in our community is ever alone.

If your loved one has recently passed away, please let us know by contacting our office at 215-677-1600 or office@shaareshamayim.org.
 

Interactive Memorial Plaques

Our interactive memorial board holds all of our synagogue's plaques digitally.

The interactive board automatically scrolls through the week's yahrzeits and during the week you may search for your loved one's plaque through the touch screen feature.

These interactive plaques are available for purchase.
A bio and up to three pictures can be added to any interactive plaque for an additional fee.

Click here to view our Interactive Memorial Board or visit the board any time right across our Holocaust Memorial. 
 

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