LIFECYLE

A series of rituals guide Jewish families and individuals through each stage of life and death.

Each stage of life is usually accompanied by celebrations with family, friends and community. The rituals surrounding death, though not a celebration, bring the community together to honor and remember the deceased, and support the grieving loved ones.

BIRTH/INFANCY

The first significant ritual for a Jewish child is the naming. Jewish children are given Hebrew names in addition to their English names.

A boy receives his Hebrew name at the brit milah (bris), the circumcision of the male child, performed on the eighth day after birth. The circumcision is performed by a highly trained person called a mohel or, if a mohel is unavailable, by a Jewish doctor under the supervision of a rabbi.

The baby girl is named at a simchat bat, with no strict traditions that allow parents to create their own ceremony for welcoming their daughter into the Jewish community.

Upshirin

For many boys, their first haircut is at three years of age. This ceremony is called an upsherin – a Yiddish word meaning to “cut off.”

The third birthday is a significant stage in the life of a Jewish boy. It is then that he officially begins his Torah education, and starts to wear a kippah and tzitzit.

BAR/BAT MITZVAH

The formal rite of passage into adulthood for Jewish boys and girls is celebrated when they become a bar or bat mitzvah (son/daughter of the commandment).

For both boys and girls, reaching the age of bar/bat mitzvah means they are considered “adults” according to Jewish law, and are responsible for their own actions regarding Jewish ritual, religious laws, traditions and ethics.

A boy becomes a bar mitzvah on his 13th birthday; a girl is considered a bat mitzvah, in Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, when she reaches the age of 12; in Reform Judaism, at the age of 13.

Marriage

A Jewish wedding is a powerful Jewish ritual that serves as a reminder of the power of love and union.

There are a few stages to a traditional Jewish wedding: erusin/also called kiddushin (betrothal on the wedding day), ketubah (statement of obligations), chuppah (the wedding canopy), nesuin (marrying with a ring and witnesses), on, an Ashkenazic custom in which the bride and groom spend 10 to 20 minutes in a private room) and sheva brachot (the seven blessings and celebrations).

The breaking of the glass at the conclusion of the ceremony has been interpreted by many to symbolize the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The glass reminds us that even during the most joyous of occasions, we still mourn. Others consider the glass’s fragility as a symbol of the frailty of human relationships, or that the couple is breaking with their past lives so that they can create a new family together.

Death And Mourning

When a Jewish person dies, there are clear directions as to how things should proceed with regard to the body, the burial, the funeral and mourning.

The concept of honoring the dead is reflected in all Jewish burial customs. Burial takes place as soon as possible, sometimes within 24 hours after death, or as shortly thereafter as relatives can gather for the service.

There is a mitzvah to join a burial society (chevra kadisha), which ritually prepares the body for burial, and to sit with the body (as a “shomer,” or guard, between the time of death and the burial).

While always tragic, the Jewish rituals around death, funerals and mourning recognize that grieving and recovery after the death of a loved one is a long and gradual process.

The process begins with shiva – seven most intense days of mourning; then shloshim – first 30 days of mourning; and aveilut – year of mourning. While one is an avel (mourner) for a full year for immediate relatives, one only says kaddish for the first 11 months of the year. The unveiling consists of removing a veil to reveal the tombstone in a relatively short ceremony marking the gravestone’s dedication.

Yahrzeit is the anniversary of the day of death, often observed by saying kaddish, giving charity (tzedakah) in memory of the deceased, and visiting the grave. It is considered a mitzvah is to mark a grave with a stone. Each mourner adds a stone to the collection on the grave. Judaism reminds us that there is permanence amidst the pain. While other things fade, stones and souls endure.

MOHELS

A mohel is the person who performs the circumcision in the brit milah ceremony for a male child on the eighth day after his birth. For more information, contact your local congregation.

BRUCE J. BIRK, MD

503-799-2794 portlandmohel.com

RABBI TZVI FISCHER

Oregon Bris Center

503-757- 0606 oregonbris.com

RABBI GADI LEVY

720-315-4266 myhomecircumcision.com

WENDY SMITH, MD

503-241-9528

MIKVAHS (MIKVAOT)

A mikvah is a ritual bath satisfying specific requirements that incorporate “living water” (running or moving water from a Godgiven source such as rain, snow, ice or a spring). Immersion in a mikvah is performed for ritual purification and a change in status, including conversion. It is used by Jews who wish to observe the Jewish laws concerning family purity or sanctification before a Jewish holiday, wedding or conversion ceremony. The purpose of immersion is not physical, but spiritual, cleanliness. Today, mikvah use has taken on some modern spiritually satisfying meanings. Immersion is often a way of celebrating both happy milestones and the pains of overcoming losses.

JACKSON WELLSPRINGS

2253 Highway 99 N, Ashland, OR 541-601-8983 jacksonwellsprings.com/mikvah

MIKVAH MEI MENACHEM

Ashland, OR 541-482-2778 chabadofashland.org

MIKVAH SHOSHANA/WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER

6612 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland, OR 503-309-4185 facebook.com/PortlandWomensMikvah

RACHEL’S WELL COMMUNITY MIKVAH

6655 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland, OR 971-220-5580 jewishportland.org/mikvah

SIMCHA VENUES

B’NAI B’RITH CAMP RETREAT CENTER

Lincoln City, OR 503-496-7447 bbcamp.org/rentals

MITTLEMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Bethany West, Rentals + Events Manager

Arzélie McAllister, Rentals + Events Assistant Manager

6651 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland, OR 503-244-0111 rentals@oregonjcc.org oregonjcc.org/rentals

Think outside the box when you celebrate your simcha at the MJCC! We offer a variety of flexible spaces at reasonable rates, and we’re available seven days a week for a wide range of events, such as b’nai mitzvahs, weddings, fundraising galas, meetings, and much more. High-speed internet available for your hybrid and live-streamed events. Fill out our rental inquiry form today at oregonjcc.org/rentals

SIMCHA VENDORS

EVERYTHING JEWISH 2.0

Urban Jewish Oasis

1218 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR 503-246-5437 everythingjewishportland.com

CHEVRA KADISHA/ JEWISH BURIAL SOCIETIES

Chevra kadisha, literally holy society, performs the traditional ritual of preparing individuals for burial. Volunteers carry out the ritual of washing, purifying and dressing the deceased, with men caring for men and women caring for women to maintain modesty even in death. Since Judaism promotes the dignity of all with all being treated equally in death, the deceased is dressed in simple shrouds and buried in a plain wooden (usually pine) box.

PORTLAND AREA

CHEVRA KAVOD HAMET chevrakavodhamet.org

Includes volunteers from Congregations Neveh Shalom, Havurah Shalom, Shir Tikvah, P’nai Or, Beth Israel, Shaarie Torah, Kol Ami and Beit Haverim as well as unaffiliated.

PORTLAND HEVRA KADDISHA

Tigard, Oregon

503-519-2454

Includes volunteers from Congregations Kesser Israel, Chabad of Oregon, Beit Yosef, Shaarie Torah, and other congregations, as well as unaffiliated.

CORVALLIS AND SALEM

BEIT AM’S CHEVRA KADISHA

541-753-0067 beitam.org

EUGENE

TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL

541-485-7218 tbieugene.org

AHAVAS TORAH

503-261-3850 ahavastorah.info

CENTRAL OREGON

TEMPLE BETH TIKVAH

541-388-8826 bethtikvahbend.org

JEWISH COMMUNITY OF CENTRAL OREGON

541-815-4912 jccobend.org

FUNERAL SERVICES

HESED SHEL EMET

Oregon Jewish Indigent Burial Society

503-564-8430 jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/hesed-shel-emet

RIVER VIEW CEMETERY FUNERAL HOME

Gillian Fitzhugh, Managing Director

8421 South Macadam Ave.

Portland, OR 97219

503-246-6488 info@riverviewcemeteryfuneralhome.com riverviewcemeteryfuneralhome.com

River View Cemetery Funeral Home was established in 2004 and is conveniently located on the grounds of River View Cemetery in Southwest Portland. The staff of this fullservice funeral home is experienced in Jewish burial customs and committed to providing the highest level of quality service to the Jewish community. In addition to Managing Director Gillian Fitzhugh, four funeral directors are on hand to assist with arrangements: Gary Sands, Gordy Reece, Maleah Wraith and Monica Trejo.

CEMETERIES

Many congregations maintain their own cemeteries; see congregations section for contact information.

JEWISH CEMETERY AT RIVER VIEW CEMETERY

300 S Taylors Ferry Road, Section 142, Portland, OR 503-287-0066, 503-246-4251 jewishcemeteryatriverview.org

KIDS & TEENS

EDUCATION RESOURCES • PRESCHOOLS

DAY SCHOOLS/HIGH SCHOOLS

YOUTH GROUPS AND PROGRAMS

HIGH SCHOOL STUDY PROGRAMS

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES

DAY CAMPS, CLASSES & ACTIVITIES

RESIDENT CAMP

For almost as long as Jews have been in Oregon, there have been schools to help facilitate the transmission of knowledge to the next generation.

Since the founding of the Portland Hebrew School in the early 1900s, opportunities for Jewish education have blossomed along with the growth of the Jewish community. Portland now offers three day schools, and Hebrew and religious schools are spread across the state.

Informal education is widely available too. Youth groups and camps, both day and overnight, immerse youth in Jewish life. At Jewish camp, children experience a range of activities from arts to sports all in a Jewish setting. Jewish values, culture and traditions permeate the campers’ days through song, food, art and dance.

In recent years many programs such as PJ Library have arrived to reinforce the link between schools and parents, while also engaging families who have no other connection to the Jewish community.

On the following pages, you will find the resources you need to ensure your family can enjoy the sweetness of Jewish life available in our communities.

Families

PJ LIBRARY PORTLAND

9900 SW Greenburg Road # 220, Tigard, OR 503-892-7415 jewishportland.org/pjlibrary

PJ LIBRARY EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD

PO Box 5924, Eugene, OR 541-484-2541 jewishfedlc.org/pj-library

PJ LIBRARY IN OREGON

Oregon outside of Portland metro including Salem, Corvallis, Ashland and Bend 503-452-3443 pjlibrary.org

PJ OUR WAY

For ages 9-12 pjourway.org