Life Cycle Events

Baby Naming

Babies are named and blessed from the Bimah during Shabbat services. To arrange for a baby naming, please call one of the Rabbis’ administrative assistants.

Click here to download and print the Temple Israel Baby Naming Form.

New Baby Dinners, Shabbat B'Yachad

Shabbat B’Yachad (“Shabbat Together”), dinners delivered on a Friday to members or their children during the miraculous time when a new baby comes into the home.  Contact Linda Newman for information or to participate.  Made available through the generosity of the Josephine & Harry Colton Shabbat B’Yachad Fund.

Click here to fill out a Shabba B'Yachad form online.

Brit Milah

The Temple is happy to offer its facilities for your son’s Brit Milah. To schedule space, please call one of our rabbinic assistants. If you would like any of our clergy to be present, please contact their administrative assistants.

Birkat Yeladim/Blessing of the Children (Consecration)

A Family Education Program for First Grade students and their parents.

Celebrate Sukkot and the beginning of our children’s Jewish education with a wonderful morning of study, song and blessings. Our 1st grade students receive a special gift of a Torah and participate in a special Sukkot Blessing service. Children march into the sanctuary and are blessed by the Clergy at this important life cycle event.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies are scheduled through the Cantor’s office. Tutors are assigned by the Cantor, who works with students to match them with the tutor who is most appropriate for their needs. To schedule either social hall for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration, please contact the Temple office.

Download the Blessings Before and After the Reading of the Torah. 

Confirmation

Our ninth-grade High School students affirm their commitment to Jewish education during services on Shavuot. They receive the blessings of the clergy and their families and an inscribed Bible.

Graduation, High School

Each year, Temple Israel graduates a large number of students who have participated in the congregation’s Monday Night High School program. The ceremony, created by the graduates, takes place near the conclusion of the school year.

Wedding

To schedule your wedding ceremony with our Rabbis, Cantor, or Cantorial Soloist, please contact one of their assistants. To schedule the use of either social hall for your wedding reception, please contact the Temple office. Couples traditionally receive a blessing (auf ruf) from our clergy the Shabbat before their wedding. To schedule your blessing, please call one of the Rabbis’ administrative assistants.

Funeral Service

Funeral Services are arranged through the Rabbis, one of whom will work with your family during this difficult time of loss to prepare a eulogy and counsel those in need. If you would like to talk about your loss with others, please consider participating in one of the congregation’s Bereavement Support Groups. For information concerning these groups, see the Caring Community Support Groups section of this portfolio or call the Temple office.

Shiva Minyan

Temple Israel lay people, trained by our clergy, help mourners by leading evening Minyan Services in mourners’ homes. Arrangements for Minyan Services can be made by calling the Temple office.

Yahrzeit

Kaddish can be said on the Yahrzeit of your loved one either during a morning Minyan or Shabbat service. Yahrzeit reminders will be sent to Temple members in advance of the specific Shabbat. Permanent memorial plaques can be dedicated and placed on the Yahrzeit Board in our Sanctuary. For call information on permanent plaques, please contact Temple Offices.

Conversion

For those who are interested in exploring Judaism, simply schedule an appointment with one of our Rabbis by calling the Temple office. Temple Israel offers an Introduction to Judaism class for anyone interested in learning more about Judaism.

Mikveh

Temple Israel is the only Reform congregation in the world to offer a mikveh to its members, as well as to the Jewish community-at-large. Our mikveh is used by those choosing to convert to Judaism or prior to one’s wedding or a holiday. For more information concerning the use of the mikveh, please call one of the Rabbinic administrative assistants.