Ritual Resources for Jewish Celebrations
Here is a sampling of resources, reflecting a diversity of Jewish practice, for planning the ritual part of your simchah/celebration. Although this website addresses the purchasing decisions families make when planning Jewish celebrations, rather than the ritual decisions, these ritual choices, too, are a wonderful opportunity to creatively express your values.
A good place to start for more information regarding Jewish rituals is Jewish Milestones, http://www.jewishmilestones.org (510.559.3636). Jewish Milestones is a nonprofit organization that serves as an educational resource for celebrants as they prepare to mark a rite of passage with Jewish ritual.
Ritual Resources for Bar and Bat Mitzvah Celebrations
Book Danny Siegel’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah Book: A Practical Guide for Changing the World Through Your Simcha by Danny Siegel (2004: The Town House Press) Order through CMS Distributing, Naomike@aol.com.
Book Make Your Own Bar/Bat Mitzvah: A Personal Approach to Creating a Meaningful Rite of Passage by Goldie Milgram (2004: Jossey-Bass).
Book Putting God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah by Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin (1996: Jewish Lights Publishing).
Book For Teens Putting God on Your Guest List: How to Claim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Bar or Bat Mitzvah by Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin (1998: Jewish Lights Publishing).
Booklet Elijah’s Covenant Between the Generations: Curriculum & Ceremony for Teens on the Climate Crisis by Rabbis Jeff Sultar & Arthur Waskow (2008: The Shalom Center) For purchase at 215.844.8494, Greenmenorah@shalomctr.org.
Article “A Rosh Hodesh Ceremony for Bat Mitzvah Daughters,” by Sherry Rosen, in Kerem: Creative Explorations in Judaism (Volume 6, 5759/1999) For purchase at www.kerem.org, or email langner@erols.com.
Website Ritual Well: Ceremonies for Jewish Living. New rituals for “Bat/Bar Mitzvah” at
www.ritualwell.org/lifecycles/adolescence/barbatmitzvah.
Website Green Mitzvot by Kate L. Harrison: www.greenmitzvot.com.
Ritual Resources for Jewish Commitment Ceremonies and Weddings
Book The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant (2001: Simon & Schuster, Inc.).
Book The Creative Jewish Wedding Book: A Hands-on Guide to New & Old Traditions, Ceremonies & Celebrations by Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer (2004: Jewish Lights Publishing).
Book Eco-Chic Weddings: Simple Tips to Plan an Environmentally Friendly, Socially Responsible, Affordable, and Stylish Celebration by Emily Elizabeth Anderson (2007: Hatherleigh Press).
Book Green Weddings That Don’t Cost the Earth, by Carol Reed-Jones (1996: Paper Crane Press).
Book Organic Weddings: Balancing Ecology, Style and Tradition by Michelle Kozin (2003: New Society Publishers).
Booklet Bringing the Orange Under the Huppah: Progressive Jewish Alliance Resources for Marriage Equality (Progressive Jewish Alliance, www.pjalliance.org).
Book chapter “Brit Ahuvim: A Marriage Between Subjects,” chapter 5 in Engendering Judaism: An Inclusive Theology and Ethics by Rachel Adler (1998: Beacon Press).
Book The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-friendly Wedding on any Budget by Kate L. Harrison (2008: Casablanca Press) Read excerpts and tales of “real green weddings,” and order book, at www.thegreenbrideguide.com.
Article “Kiddushin and Kesharin: Toward an Egalitarian Wedding Ceremony,” by Cheryl Beckerman, in Kerem: Creative.
Explorations in Judaism (Volume 5, 5757/Spring 1997) For purchase at www.kerem.org, or email langner@erols.com.
Article “A New Take on Kiddushin: Halakhic, Egalitarian, Non-Heterosexist,” by Shalom Flank, in Kerem: Creative Explorations in Judaism (Volume 8, 5763/2002) For purchase at www.kerem.org, or email langner@erols.com.
Website Ritual Well: Ceremonies for Jewish Living. New rituals for “Intimacy & Partnering”
at www.ritualwell.org/lifecycles/intimacypartnering.
Program The wedding of Tamara Cohen and Gwynn Kessler, 2004 from The Jewish Women’s Archive: http://jwa.org/feminism/_html/JWA100.htm.
Website Great Green Wedding: www.greatgreenwedding.com.
Online Magazine Portovert, “The exclusive wedding magazine for eco-savvy brides and grooms.” www.portovert.com.
Website Green Mitzvot by Kate L. Harrison: www.greenmitzvot.com.