7. Does Reform Judaism include all of the traditional life cycle observances?
Yes. However, these have been infused with the hugely important dimension of egalitarianism, the equal treatment of women and men. Thus there is an increasing tendency to balance brit milah (circumcision) with a new ceremony for baby girls (simkhat bat) and a naming or blessing ceremony in the synagogue for both.
Boys celebrate their bar mitzvah and girls their bat mitzvah in exactly the same way – being called to read the Torah at the Shabbat service at the same age.
Our wedding ceremony contains all of the elements which make it valid in Jewish tradition whilst at the same time being egalitarian with an exchange of promises.
We maintain our own cemeteries and pride ourselves that the funeral and the shiv’a are conducted with real sensitivity both to the deceased and the bereaved.
We should add that other life cycle events are important too and the Movement is at the forefront of liturgical innovation so that other episodes in people’s lives can also be marked Jewishly. One example would be the development of the simkhat bat ceremony for baby girls to balance brit milah for boys.
Acknowledgement: ‘What is Reform Judaism' by Rabbi Tony Bayfield.
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7. Does Reform Judaism include all of the traditional life cycle observances?
Yes. However, these have been infused with the hugely important dimension of egalitarianism, the equal treatment of women and men. Thus there is an increasing tendency to balance brit milah (circumcision) with a new ceremony for baby girls (simkhat bat) and a naming or blessing ceremony in the synagogue for both.
