Life Cycle Events

One powerful aspect of congregational life is the sense of community we feel when we share rites of passage with each other. At Congregation Beth Shalom we strive to create a spiritually rich context for these passages. The information that follows will help you plan your events.

Please notify the office about births and simchahs in your family. The Beth Shalom Mitzvah Corps is ready to help families in times of joy and in times of sadness. We announce news about congregants at Shabbat services in order to foster communal support for members in times of joy and sadness. To volunteer for the Mitzvah Corps, please contact us.

Questions concerning any of the topics below can be directed to the Rabbi’s assistant, Kris Klippel, (206) 524-0075, ext. 8 or contact form.

For information regarding renting facilities, catering meals, or planning special occasions at Beth Shalom, click here to view our Lifecycle & Event Handbook.

Births

The Beit Hamidrash has several Hebrew name books for parents mulling over names for new arrivals. The Rabbi is available to work with prospective parents and families to plan for a Brit Milah (ritual circumcision) or a Brit Bat (covenanting ceremony for daughters) and baby namings.

Brit Milah

Because a Brit Milah must take place on the 8th day after the birth of a male child, parents need to move quickly to arrange for a mohel. It is important that parents coordinate scheduling with the mohel and rabbi before announcing the time with family and friends. The family will meet with the mohel several days prior to the Brit Milah. The Rabbi can participate in the Brit Milah with the mohel by announcing the name of the child and giving a D'var Torah at the ceremony. There are several ways to involve family and to add special prayers and rituals that the Rabbi can explain prior to the ceremony. It is also common for parents to sponsor a kiddush, a mitzvah feast or refreshment that follows the Shabbat morning service, or a se'udah shlishit, the third Shabbat meal held during the afternoon before the end of Shabbat, in honor of the birth of a male child some time after the Brit Milah to share their simchah with the congregation.

Pidyon Haben

The ceremony of Pidyon Haben, redemption of the firstborn, is a mitzvah. It takes place 30 days after the birth of a firstborn son. Because specific conditions must be met to be able to perform this mitzvah, it is very important to consult Rabbi Borodin. Rabbi Borodin will assist parents in planning this lovely ceremony which is also followed by a se'udat mitzvah.

Baby Namings and Brit Bat - (Ceremonies for Girls)

Traditionally, the birth of a girl was celebrated when her father came to the synagogue on the Shabbat immediately following the birth and announced the child's Hebrew name during an aliyah at the Torah service. At Beth Shalom, we encourage both the mother and the father to be present at the naming -- therefore, many of our baby namings are delayed until the mother and child can be present at the aliyah. Welcoming a baby girl into the Jewish community may be done with a prearranged aliyah at services or through a separate service.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

All B'nai Mitzvah at Beth Shalom are celebrated in the context of our regular worship services at Beth Shalom. Young persons come before the congregation after several years of Jewish study and special preparation.

Here are some basic things to know:

The Rabbi and her assistant do scheduling of all B'nai Mitzvah.
Families must be members to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at the synagogue.
B'nai Mitzvah may be observed in several different worship formats such as Shabbat morning, Shabbat Minchah, Weekday morning, Rosh Hodesh, and even Festival services .
B'nai Mitzvah ceremonies are also possible for adults or older teenagers who did not have ceremonies at age 12/13.
It is customary to provide a meal for both private guests and congregants who attend the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony.

B'nai Mitzvah Program

Marriage

Couples planning to get married should first contact Rabbi Borodin to set a date and to begin the process of planning a ceremony. Weddings taking place at Beth Shalom must be confirmed with the Lifecycle Coordinator. After meeting with the Rabbi, the couple should contact the Lifecycle Coordinator to begin arrangements for the ceremony. Please note the following when planning a wedding at CBS:

The synagogue has two chuppot, wedding canopies. One is portable and is held by metal rods. The other is larger, stationary and more decorative.
Couples should schedule the aufruf at the same time as they schedule the ceremony.
Couples may rent the sanctuary or Beit Hamidrash for a ceremony and have their reception elsewhere.
Couples wishing to have another rabbi officiate at their wedding should speak with Rabbi Borodin. Rabbi Borodin must approve all weddings that take place in Beth Shalom.
The synagogue can accommodate both large and small weddings and also has several rooms, which can be rented for preliminary ceremonies.
Sheva Berachot parties are encouraged at Beth Shalom and our Mitzvah Corps will help the couple with arrangement.

Divorce

The Rabbi is available to provide short-term counseling for couples undergoing severe marital stress. She also serves as a shaliach (representative) of the Rabbinical Assembly Beit Din (religious court) of Los Angeles, which arranges for gitim (Jewish divorce documents). Conservative Jewish law requires that every divorcing couple obtain a get (a Jewish writ of divorce). Please call the rabbi's assistant if you need assistance in this sensitive area.

Illness

It is the custom of our congregation to announce the names of sick members and relatives during the Torah service. Please contact the office if you wish to have your loved one included on the list for Refuah Shlemah (prayer for complete recovery) found in the Shabbat announcement sheet.

Death and Mourning

Congregation Beth Shalom is prepared to provide comfort and assistance during times of grief and mourning. The Religious Practices Committee prepared a manual for mourners and comforters, "May God Comfort You," that describes mourning traditions and customs and contains essential information. We recommend that every member have a manual at home, which can be obtained at no cost by contacting the shul office.

In the case of a death, first call the Seattle Jewish Chapel (206) 725-3067. Rabbi Borodin should be informed immediately of a death in the family. She will give you timely guidance on funeral arrangements and is available to provide comfort and solace at a difficult time. She will also coordinate with the Mitzvah Corps to help with Shivah minyans and condolence meals. Our Cemetary Committee can also be of additional help to you and your loved ones.

The congregation will assist at many points in the mourning process: informing others, funeral attendance, condolence meals, and Shivah minyans. After the initial mourning period has ended, please give the office staff information about the Yahrzeit date, which will be entered into our database in order to furnish you with a timely reminder each year. The office also has an ample supply of Yahrzeit candles, Shivah candles, books on mourning, and a supply of siddurim for Shivah minyans.

Life Cycle Events for Non-Members

Rabbi Borodin is sometimes available to officiate at the funerals, birth ceremonies, and weddings of your friends and family who are not members of Congregation Beth Shalom. Should her schedule not permit her to officiate, she will gladly refer nonmembers to a colleague. When Rabbi Borodin does officiate, the synagogue charges a nonmember fee for her services. A schedule of these fees is available from the office, or in the Lifecycle & Event Handbook.