Rites of Passage
Rites of passage are not unique to Judaism; birth, coming of age, weddings, and death are all universal experiences. What makes Judaism unique is its understanding of God's claim upon us at every step along the way. The natural occurrences of life thus become occasions to acknowledge and give thanks for the supernatural, overarching presence that gives meaning to human existence.
Brit Milah
The Brit Milah (Covenant of Circumcision) is an ancient ritual that perhaps more than any other initiates the male into the community of Jewish life. It is performed on the eighth day of the infant's life according to the instructions described in Genesis 17:10-14 and Leviticus 12:3. Traditionally, the family gathers and a specially honored person called a sandek - perhaps a grandfather - holds the child. Then a mohel - someone who, while not necessarily a rabbi, is a pious Jew who is skilled in the surgical technique required to remove the infant's foreskin - performs the operation. The ceremony affirms the covenant God made with Abraham (Genesis 12:3) and initiates the newborn boy into life of the Jewish people.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
The Bar Mitzvah (Bat Mitzvah for girls) is a rite of passage into young adulthood. Meaning Son (or Daughter) of the Commandment, it marks the initiation of the Jewish child into the obligations of Torah observance. For boys, it occurs at the age of 13; for girls, it is at the age of 12. In earlier days, the ceremony of the Bar Mitzvah in its most basic form was the public acknowledgement at a Sabbath service that the young man was now qualified to participate in a minyan (gathering of ten men for prayer). With the passage of time and the development of other branches of Judaism, the Bar and Bat Mitzvah have become elaborate affairs, and unfortunately in some cases prove to be a graduation party signaling the departure from religious life rather than full entrance into it.
Weddings
The wedding ceremony is one of the most joyful occasions in Jewish life. It is conducted under the chuppah (the wedding tent), reminiscent of the ancient Jewish nomadic way of life when the bride would begin her new life by entering the tent of her husband. The covering of the chuppah also symbolizes the presence and protection of God. There are a number of other rituals that give special meaning to the Jewish wedding. One is the reading of the Ketubah (marriage contract), which is done in Aramaic and emphasizes the chatan's (husband's) responsibility to provide for and cherish his kallah (wife). Another ritual is the breaking of a wine glass, which reminds the bride and groom that even in the midst of their joy, they should remember the destruction of the Temple and the yet-unrealized destiny of the Jewish people.
Deaths
Death is said to be the "great leveler," and rituals surrounding the end of life are as old as human consciousness of its mortality. Since life is sacred in Judaism, the rites associated with the death of a community member are meant to emphasize the meaning of life and also to comfort those who are left behind.
According to Torah (Deuteronomy 21:23), the body should be buried within 24 hours of death. Jewish funerals are generally not lengthy affairs. Among the more Orthodox, the body is wrapped in a talith (prayer shawl) that has been specially prepared for that purpose. Following the death comes a seven-day period of intense mourning called "Sitting Shiva" (Shiva = Seven). During this time, mirrors are covered and activity is kept to a minimum. Family members gather around to comfort one another, and visitors making condolence calls may be received, as well as meals that are traditionally prepared and delivered.
Perhaps Judaism's most beautiful prayer is the Kaddish (Mourner's Prayer), which begins, "Magnified and glorified is His great Name." For a year after the death occurs, the daily duty of reciting the Kaddish has traditionally fallen upon the sons of the deceased, although nowadays daughters will pray also. After the first year is over, there is often a special ceremony to unveil the gravestone and thereafter Yartzeit (Memorial) candles are lit on the anniversary of the death.
Although most Jewish people do not emphasize their concern for the world to come, rites of passage express the underlying assumption that life is more than the sum of its parts. Jesus the Messiah taught that as important as the things of life may be, they are in fact transient and dependent upon something far more durable: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
