Life Cycles at PJTC

PJTC is here to support you through all stages of life, in both celebration and times of sorrow.

Brit Milah | Baby Naming | Upsherin |B'nai Mitzvah | Weddings | Funerals | Conversion | Yahrzeits | Pastoral Care | Healing | Commemorating Life Cycle Events

BRIT MILAH
This powerful ceremony for newborn boys celebrates new life, and also brings our sons into Judaism's sacred covenant. Our clergy can put you in touch with a mohel (ritual circumciser), help the parents understand the ceremony, and co-officiate. We are available to help you make this special ceremony meaningful.

BABY NAMINGS
We celebrate the great blessing of a newborn with a ceremony that brings the child into the covenant and confers upon them a Hebrew name. Our clergy can help you think through and design this meaningful ceremony, which can take place either at home or our place of worship any day the Torah is read.

UPSHERIN
An increasingly popular custom, when a Jewish child turns three we cut their hair for the first time. Our clergy and staff are available resources.

B'NAI MITZVAH
Becoming B’nai Mitzvah is a joyful milestone in Jewish life, when a student steps into new responsibility as a Jewish adult. We guide each student through a meaningful, multi-year journey that prepares them spiritually, intellectually, and as part of our community. Students move through the religious school curriculum, and in the year before their B’nai Mitzvah, they receive one-on-one support. They work first with our tutor, then with our Cantor on prayers and Torah readings, and with our Rabbi to explore their Torah portion and develop a personal teaching (d’var Torah). Each student also completes a mitzvah project, connecting Jewish values with action in the wider world.

B’nai Mitzvah are community celebrations, not private Shabbat services. Dates are selected in 5th grade, with family meetings in 5th, 6th, and 7th grades. Students who join after 5th grade are never too late—though they may need a little extra private tutoring. Questions can be directed to Executive Director Melissa Levy (melissa@pjtc.net).

B’nai Mitzvah is not just for 13-year-olds. If you are deepening your Jewish journey at 14 or 104, we welcome you in our Adult B’nai Mitzvah program. Interested adults can contact Cantor Ruth (cantorruth@pjtc.net).

WEDDINGS
Rabbi Josh Ratner, Cantor Ruth Berman Harris, and Director of Education Rabbi Jill Gold Wright are available to officiate weddings. It is customary for the couple to be called to the bimah for an auf ruf
Aliyah, a blessing on the Shabbat preceding the wedding.

CONVERSION
Rabbi Josh Ratner and Director of Education Rabbi Jill Gold Wright are available to discuss conversion. We welcome Jews by choice!

FUNERALS
Our clergy are available to officiate funerals and Shiva services. Our community is here to support each other. We also have cemetery plots for sale at Rose Hills at reduced prices. Click here for more information on our Cemetery Committee.

YAHRZEITS
It is customary for our clergy to announce the yahrzeit, or anniversary of a loved one's passing, at Shabbat services prior to the anniversary. Members can check their yahrzeit list in their ShulCloud member portal at any time and will receive reminders of upcoming observations by snail mail.

PASTORAL CARE
We seek to enhance and nurture the spirit of community within our congregation with bikkur cholim (visiting the sick) and by addressing the emotional and/or special needs of all our congregants. Every member plays a role in helping to support and comfort those in need, within our congregation and the larger Jewish community. All are invited to contribute by delivering special greetings at Rosh Hashanah and Pesach, or making phone calls or visits when someone needs a little special attention. We also make an effort to reach out when there is a death in our community offering assistance with preparations for burial, funeral, a meal of consolation, Shiva services, and through the grieving process. Please contact our Rabbi, Cantor or Chaplain if you would like to volunteer, or if you—or anyone you know—needs a little extra attention. We are here for you. 

HEALING
The Mi Shebeirach prayer is one of the central Jewish prayers for those who are facing the challenge of illness and includes pleas for both physical and spiritual healing. We invite you to send us the name(s) of loved ones who are facing the challenge of illness, so that we may support them, and you, by inclusion in our communal Mi Shebeirach prayers.

PJTC's Chaplain, Claire Gorfinkel, reaches out to members of our congregation and the wider community who need a little extra attention beyond prayer. For more information, please send an email.

COMMEMORATING LIFE CYCLE EVENTS

Communal Tallit Tapestry

Record your blessings in PJTCs special custom crafted tallit, creatively stitched by artist Trudie Strobel, that will wrap our members in the joy and warmth of shared tradition. Mark your place in our temple’s history by permanently inscribing your family’s meaningful events on this communal piece of art.

Click here for more information.