Celebrations of life cycle ceremonies at "Ma'alot Tiv'on
During the Jewish life there are moments that are pointed out publicly and inside the Kehila. These moments happen in everybody's lives from birth to death.
At "Ma'alot Tiv'on" there is a possibility to point out the following moments:
1. The bestowal of a daughter.
"bestowal" = gift: "and Leah said: God bestowed me with a good bestowal" (Genesis 30, 20). "bestowal of a daughter" is an ancient custom that marks the birth of a daughter, a short time after the birth (there is no fixed date). The event is celebrated with songs and poems. The premise is that the whole people of Israel: Men, women and children received the covenant at the mountain of Sinai, wherefore the daughter just like the son are entitled to enter into the covenant of Avraham our father. In the preparation of the celebration of the bestowal of a daughter there is a wide range of possibilities for expressing oneself of the parents as far as the parts that are read and sung in this celebration.
2. Bat or Bar Mitzva.
In the Jewish tradition Bar and Bat Mitzva mean: the receiving of the joke of commandments. Practically that means to receive the joke of the commandments, meaning the development of the awareness of the responsibility a human has for the dues between Man and God and man and man.
It is important that the ceremony of passing from childhood to grownup is meaningful, that this becomes a station in life in which the boys and girls and their families stop and think about questions that have to do with the Jewish identity, the significance of the ceremony to be called to the Tora, and of the sources of the ceremonies of Bar/Bat Mitzva. The being called to the Tora is the pinnacle of this family process and it comes after learning and taking part in the life of the Kehila and its prayers.
3. Bat Mitzva to grown ups (or Bar Mitzva for grown ups)
For all those women that did not celebrate the Bat Mitzva in their youth and were not being called to the Tora and want to feel that situation. (and also the men that in their youth were not being called to the Tora , it is never too late.) a workshop that includes the reading of the Tora and learning about the celebration and making a personal celebration to everybody that is taking part.
4. Marriage (Chupa) and celebration of alternative marriages.
There exists a possibility of preparing a marriage or celebration of alternative celebration by the Raba of the Kehila. The celebration will be prepared by the couple together with the Raba. We are sorry, but the celebration that is held by a reform Rav or a Raba are (not yet) accepted by the central Rabbinate and therefore it is necessary that the couple are married by civil marriage abroad or in any other way that is recognized by the juridical institutions in Israel.
5. Burial and memorial.
In Kiriat Tiv'on there exists a part of the cementary to the organization "correct rest" where there is a possibilty to have burial celebrations and memorial services that are not being done by the burial society. Also at the normal cementary of Kiriat Tiv'on, if the family so desires, you can have a burial celebration or a memorial service with a personal note in addition to the traditional ceremony. For help to prepare the celebration you can approach the Raba of the community.
6. Conversion
The learning for a conversion is being done within the context of the community. The conversion itself is being done by the court of the movement for advanced Judaism. The conversion time takes about a year depending on the knowledge and integration into the Jewish life of the convert.
7. Additional celebrations
There are still other moments that are possible and desirable to celebrate like: starting the first school year, joining the army, retirement, an excursion around the world etc.
You can always come to the community and propose and councel and build a new or an old celebration together with the Raba .
