Jewish Rituals

• Rites of passage


  Rituals that mark important stages in a person's life
• Important rituals in the life of a Jewish person

  • Ritual at Birth - Brit Milah
  • Rituals celebrating adulthood - Bar and Bat Mitzvah
  • Ritual for Marriage - Jewish wedding ritual
  • Rituals at the time of death - Death and Mourning Rituals
• Brit Milah


  Ritual of circumcision for Jewish boys
• Brit Milah ceremony


  1. Child is brought into the room by mother

  2. Someone else holds the child during circumcision

  3. Foreskin is removed

  4. Baby is given a Hebrew name

  5. A few drops of wine are put into the baby's mouth

  6. Family has a big celebration
• Orthodox view of Brit Milah

  • It is a 3000 year old tradition from Abraham
  • Circumcision is one of the mitzvot (commandments)
  • Some Orthodox communities may isolate a Jew who has not been circumcised
• Reform view of Brit Milah


  • A Jew does not need to be circumcised to be a Jew
  • Jewish identity is inherited through the mother
  • It is unethical as it causes great pain for the baby
  • The Torah is not the direct word of God so not every mitzvot needs to be followed
• Bar Mitzvah


  Son of the commandment - when a Jewish boy becomes an adult member of the faith
• Bat Mitzvah


  Daughter of the commandment - when a Jewish girl becomes an adult member of the faith
• Bar Mitzvah ceremony


  1. Boy reads from the Torah scroll

  2. Boy wears the tallit and teffilin for the first time

  3. Rabbi explains the importance and welcomes the boy as an adult

  4. Father recites a prayer giving thanks

  5. Celebration and party
• Orthodox view of Bar/Bat Mitzvah


  • Bar Mitzvah is highly important as the boy can now be part of the 10 men required for a synagogue service (Minyan)
  • It is important the boy can read Hebrew for synagogue services
  • Bat Chayil ceremony prepares the girl for life as an Orthodox wife and community member
• Reform view of Bat Mitzvah

  • Girl has a Bat Mitzvah ceremony where she can read from the Torah, wear the tallit, and lead a service
• Jewish wedding ritual


  One of the most important Rites of Passage and a reason for tremendous celebration
• Jewish wedding ceremony


  1. Signing of the marriage contract

  2. Bridegroom places veil over bride's face

  3. Couple walk to the canopy (chuppah)

  4. Couple drink a glass of wine

  5. Seven glasses of wine drunk to symbolise the days of creation

  6. Bride is given a ring

  7. Prayers are said or sung

  8. Bridegroom breaks a glass

  9. Celebration with music and party
• Orthodox view of Jewish wedding

  • Marriage is an important foundation for bringing up children and should be for life
  • Based on the literal interpretation of the Torah
• Reform view of Jewish wedding

  • Allow marriage ceremonies where the bride is not Jewish or it is a single-sex marriage
  • Bride may also give the groom a ring and make a similar statement
  • May include a vicar/priest of a second faith
• Funeral service


  Takes place as soon after death as possible, is very short, includes reading of Psalms, prayers of thanks, and a speech by the rabbi
• Jewish burial practices


  • Most Jews choose burial over cremation, due to beliefs about resurrection or tradition
  • Blessings are said after the deceased is buried
• Avelut - the period of mourning


  1. Mourners are served hard-boiled eggs

  2. Sit for seven days in mourning (Shiva)

  3. Light a candle kept burning for seven days

  4. Cover all mirrors in the house

  5. Sit on low stools

  6. Recite Kaddish (mourning prayers) three times a day

  7. Shiva stops on Shabbat

  8. Sheloshim - thirty days of continued mourning

  9. Kaddish recited every day for eleven months

  10. Yarzheit - light a candle and recite Kaddish on the anniversary of the death
• Reform view of mourning rituals

  • Longer time between death and funeral
  • Choose cremation over burial
  • Do not cover mirrors or stay in house for full Shiva
  • Shiva lasts one or three days, do not sit on low stools