On Returning Home after a Funeral
In Jewish tradition, a mourner is identified as being a child, spouse, sibling, or parent of the deceased. Others, however, may also wish to use the following prayers
Lifecycle Rituals
Hanging a Mezuzah
This ancient symbol speaks to us of our need to live by the words of Adonai. We affix the mezuzah to the doorposts of this house with the hope that it will always remind us of our duties to one another as members of the Household of Israel. May the divine spirit fill this house--the spirit of love and kindness and consideration for all people.
Upon Retirement
As I look back over the years that have gone, I ask to see life as a continuum from youth to age: What lies before me now?
Mourner's Kaddish
Mourners recite the Kaddish, praising God, during the bereavement period and to mark the anniversary of a death of a loved one.
On the Birth or Adoption of a Child
Source of all life, our hearts are filled with joy for the child that has been entrusted to us. May we be thankful always and speak our thanks not with words alone, but with the love, understanding, and tender care with which we hope to raise our child.
