TEMPLE 101 | LIFE CYCLE EVENTS

Life Cycle Events

Blessings
Families may wish to have a blessing to mark a life cycle event or special occasion, such as anniversaries, milestone birthdays, births, weddings, or recovery from illness. These blessings can take place either at a family celebration or as part of Shabbat services. Contact a Temple rabbi or cantor if you wish to arrange a blessing.

Confirmation

Consecration

Conversion

Death/Funerals

Cemetery and Mausoleum

Official Times of Remembrance
Mourner's Kaddish-The mitzvah of reciting Kaddish is incumbent upon the children, spouse, siblings and parents of the deceased. It is recited at the graveside at the end of a funeral and during the period of mourning. This ancient prayer is also recited at the end of all Temple services. Members of the congregation often join in the Kaddish prayer.

Yahrzeit-The anniversary of a death. Family members light a yahrzeit candle (available in grocery stores or the Temple gift shop) at this time. The candle burns for 24 hours in a glass container. It is lit at sundown of the day prior to the anniversary of the death. The name of the deceased person may be mentioned at the services on the Shabbat of the yahrzeit, or at the closet 8:15 p.m. Friday night service. Call the Temple main number, 214.706.0000, to place the name on the list.

Yizkor-A traditional prayer of remembrance. It is customary to recite Yizkor four times during the year: Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot.

Memorial Room-The Memorial Room is a quit refuge in which to pause to remember and to ensure that your loved one will be memorialized in a fitting and caring way. A donation is required for placement of a plaque. This assures that your loved one will be remembered automatically from the pulpit on the anniversary of the death and you will be so notified. For more information, please contact our Executive Director at 214.706.0000.

Hospital Visitation
Since hospitals no longer provide Temple with the names of those who are admitted, it is important that people notify the Temple when they know of someone who is hospitalized. Our clergy and Caring Congregation volunteers visit congregants in the hospitals regularly.

Volunteers visit local hospitals on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week. On Fridays, volunteers bring blue Shabbat bags containing all the items needed to celebrate Shabbat. Please contact our Caring Congregation Director at 214.706.0000, ext. 151 to volunteer or get more information.

Marriage

Marriage Information
Counseling-The Temple rabbi or cantor is the first contact at Temple Emanu-El when planning a wedding that involves any of the clergy. Counseling before marriage is required for all couples.

Dates-Check with the rabbi or cantor whom you wish to perform the ceremony to determine his or her availability as soon as possible. Reform Jewish weddings are not performed on the following dates: Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Sukkot, Tisha B'av and Shavuot.

Outside Clergy-If you want a non-Temple rabbi or cantor to participate in the service, he or she may do so by invitation of a Temple clergy member.

The Building-Temple Emanu-El facilities are available for weddings of members and children of members. There is no charge for the worship space for members or children of members. Fees apply for any reception space you choose to utilize. Unaffiliated members of the Jewish community and members of other congregations may use Temple facilities; however, restrictions apply, costs differ and the needs of members take priority.

Interfaith Marriages and Same-Sex Marriages-Our congregation openly embraces families of interfaith and same-sex marriages. Please speak to our clergy about officiation at interfaith marriages so that they can help in your decision-making and planning process.