Rituals
Blessings At Meals
Submitted by Administrator on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 13:56
We always say blessings as a reminder to appreciate the things we have. It is especially significant to say blessings before meals. The traditional "Motzi" and "Barukha" for bread and wine are the most well known but there are special blessings for all types of foods. It is nice to include the blessings for fruit of the trees - especially when it is the first fruits of the season.
New Drivers Ceremony - New Tradition
Submitted by Administrator on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 07:58Our teenagers taking on the responsibility of driving is a major transition in their lives. Rabbi Janet Marder at Congregation Beth Am in California has written a special prayer for parents to use when "presenting the keys" to their new drivers. It is a beautiful ceremony with much meaning.
Adolescence: First Menstruation for Girls
Submitted by Administrator on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 21:49
I found a wonderful site with many different rituals and customs for this life cycle event. An Askenazi custom (minhag) for mothers to slap their daughters in the face on this occasion. The reasons varied from 'slapping sense' into a newly fertile girl so she would know not to disgrace the family to helping to bring a healthy flush to her face because of the bleeding. This is more of a superstition than a tradition and is also said to keep the evil spirits away.
Salt - An Old Tradition Becomes ReNEWed
Submitted by Administrator on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 07:58Salt -
It is customary that salt is one of the first items we bring into a new home along with bread and wine. As salt is one of the essential ingredients in a good meal along with bread and wine for celebration!
Blessings and When and Where for a Tallit
Submitted by Administrator on Wed, 08/12/2009 - 17:01Details - Old and New Traditions for the Tallit
When praying or reading Torah, the custom is to wear a prayer shawl with tzitzit (fringes). There are different customs as to when this is done.
It is the tiny details and reasons that make so many of our traditions unique and interesting.
Here are just a few:
Most will not wear a tallit before the age of bar or bat mitzvah. It is part of the ritual when one first reads Torah to start wearing a tallit when praying and reading Torah.
A Bowl of Mitzvot
Submitted by Administrator on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 21:54Teaching children about mitzvot can become a fun family tradition. Make a special bowl that has age appropriate mitzvot on small papers to pull out once a week as a reminder to do something good for someone else.
You can download 30 "easy" to do mitzvot here.
Cut them up and put them in a pretty bowl or container. Each week on Shabbat you can pick a different mitzvot reminder to do the following week.
