Life Events

    
 

We all love babies .. especially Rabbi Jackie, so please always inform us when such a happy event occurs.

A few months after the birth we would invite you to bring the baby, boy or girl, to the synagogue for a special blessing when the Hebrew name can be announced and the parents can give thanks for the addition to their family.

It's a boy! The rabbi can help put you in touch with a mohel for the circumcision. We recommend mohelim who have been trained by the Movement for Reform Judaism. We only use mohelim who are also fully qualified medical doctors.

Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah literally means "son of the commandment". The Jewish tradition of the Bar Mitzvah started in the early Middle Ages. It celebrated a boy's 13th birthday, the first time he was allowed by Jewish Law to read aloud from the Torah in the synagogue service.

The ceremony has developed into a young person's entry into religious adulthood, when he or she assumes responsibility for the keeping of the commandments. We encourage both boys and girls to celebrate this important stage in their religious lives.

At age 13 we have a ceremony at the Shabbat service when the young person reads from the Torah, the Haftarah and a study passage of his/her own devising.

There is further study and development in Cheder Senior School and the option of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah Sheni (second) ceremony from age 15 onwards. Here the pupil leads the whole Shabbat morning service up to the Torah service, reads the full Torah portion and gives a commentary on the portion.

The Bar/Bat Mizvah Sheni not only gives a young person the skills in leading a service, but also the opportunity to study Torah at a deeper level of understanding. There are also opportunities between the two ceremonies to participate in services and to continue to learn and develop.

We also hold adult ceremonies. In the past few years one man and a number of women (in their middle years!) have had adult Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies. They are sometimes solo, but most recent ones have been shared, and the thrill of those who did not have this opportunity when teenagers has been enjoyed by us all, giving the event a warm community atmosphere.

More information

Weddings

Holding a chupah (wedding ceremony) is a joyous communal occasion. We can facilitate holding the event in our communal hall, outside in our garden area or at an external venue.

We are always delighted to invite the couple to come and celebrate with the community by holding an 'aufruf' (a calling up) on a previous Shabbat. If required, the choir can be asked to participate in the wedding service.

British and Jewish law allows us the privilege of carrying out weddings only when both partners are Jewish.

Funerals

The community also tries to be there for our members when times are sad and difficult.

All new members and most of our existing membership belong to the Jewish Joint Burial Society which provides insurance to cover the costs of funerals and cremations. We use the services of a Jewish undertaker based in Edgware (Calo's) whom Rabbi Jackie has known for many years and whom she trusts to deal with bereavement sensitively and with integrity. They carry out tahara (ritual cleansing) on behalf of the community.

We are truly blessed by the active help given by one of our members, Ian Cave, who helps the bereaved family with administrative matters.

Most burials take place in our cemetery in Weybridge. It is part of the municipal cemetery and we are grateful to Elmbridge Council for providing us with this invaluable resource. We have arranged that a separate portion of our grounds can be used for the burial of non-Jewish partners of our members, provided that the Jewish partner agrees to be buried in the same plot when the time comes.

Cremations are held in any of the local crematoria. Ashes may be buried in the NWSS burial grounds.

The synagogue can also help with shivah prayers held at the family house or sometimes in the synagogue. Some families only wish to hold one night of prayers, others decide to hold the full week. Whatever you decide, the synagogue will try to help at this most difficult of times.