Weddings:

Your wedding is the beginning of your life together. It is about creating memories and sharing your love with all those you love. More than the food or the band, standing beneath the Chuppah defines your relationship. Through poetry, song and traditional Jewish elements, we will create a ceremony which reflects who you are as individuals and as a couple. Under the Chuppah, we will share spiritual moments as I speak to you and you speak to each other.

I come to Judaism through a Liberal perspective. I believe in creating modern rituals that meld the past with the present. I believe that every experience is one where a door to Judaism is open, and I am able to walk through the door with you, teaching you tools to create a Jewish life. As a couple coming together, or a family welcoming a new child, each soul has their unique and valid path to ever changing faces of Judaism.

Babynamings:

One of the greatest joys of being a Rabbi is welcoming babies and children into the Jewish religion. The ceremony can take place either in a synagogue or at home. If the ceremony is at home, the child’s parents work with me to craft a short service, which includes all members of the family. In Ashkenazi Jewish Tradition, babies are named for deceased family members to keep the chain of tradition alive. During the ceremony we speak about the name and where it comes from, praying that the baby takes some of the qualities of our loved one. I also ask parents to write a letter to their child, speaking of their hopes and dreams. Often, the same letter is read when the child grows and becomes a Bar or a Bat Mitzvah.

Rabbi Renee Edelman • Phone: 973-313-1771 • E-mail: rabbirenee@aol.com