The Jewish Life Cycle: From "Rituals and Concepts"

by Rabbi Sam Kieffer

We Jews are an optimistic people. We always assume that things are not as bad as they seem, and that tomorrow will always be better than today. This helps explain the importance we attach to the ceremonies and rituals of the life cycle of the Jew. By celebrating these events in the life of every Jew, we proclaim that no matter what the external conditions may be, we Jews can find something about which to celebrate and rejoice.

Jews have a sense of history. We look optimistically and hopefully to the future.

We are tremendously concerned with the importance of each individual.

We use rituals to concretize our sense of community.

Explore this section and discover resources and information on the Jewish rituals and life cycles that touch us all -- welcoming a child, losing loved one, the celebration of Jewish maturity through bar or bat mitzvah, the joining together of man and wife, and more.