Jewish life revolves around the cycle of life. While daily spiritual living is cherished, it’s the unique moments that bring us together and remind us of what matters. In the Jewish tradition, lifecycle moments from birth to death carry specific rituals, most of which have been used for centuries. Following are the resources that…
A new Tel Aviv University study reveals that perceiving marriage as unsuccessful is a significant predictor of death from a CVA and premature death among men, no less than well-known risk factors such as smoking and lack of physical activity. The study was based on extensive health data from more than 30 years of…
Jewish life revolves around the cycle of life. In the Jewish tradition, lifecycle moments from birth to death carry specific rituals, most of which have been used for centuries. These moments truly center us. Following are the resources that will help you celebrate and mark each stage of life. MOHELS A mohel is the person…
We are all used to the saying, “50% of marriages end in divorce,” but recent research pins the figure between 42-45%. The main contributing factor seems to be that fewer people are getting married. Many are opting to live together instead of tying the knot. There is one demographic, however, where divorce rates seem to…
After you say “Yes!” comes your next big decision: where to say “I do.” But before you can decide where you and your beloved want to celebrate your union, you have a lot of questions to consider. How many guests will you have? What is your budget? Will the ceremony be at your synagogue? Will…
Weddings are a blessing – an amazing beginning for a bride and groom as they embark on their life together as a married couple. A wedding, the celebration of the union, is one of the most important days of a person’s life, marked by the ceremony, the feast, family and friends. With so much time…
About the only thing I recognize about weddings in Israel com- pared to weddings in the U.S. is the stomping of the glass and the loud chorus of “Mazel Tov!” The rest – OH MY GOD! Let’s start with the time. When the invitation says 8 pm with chuppah at 9 pm, you can be…
The upcoming program “Open Hearts = Open Minds, People of Faith Supporting Freedom to Marry,” provides first-person accounts of gay and lesbian couples. (see page 22) Of course, marriage diversity within today’s Jewish com- munity extends beyond this program to couples of all stripes, shapes and sizes including gay, straight, interracial, intercultural, interfaith by birth,…
Edward and Leah Hershey Congregation Shir Tikvah | Portland As the New York Times reported when we married* our courtship turned on a ballgame, snow bank and bowl of soup, but Paris and frugality played a role. “If we get engaged,” I asked as we passed the Palais de Justice at dusk, eyeing the tu-et-moi…
Family and Friends Honor Couple by Eden Rose Brown It was a touching reunion of old friends and a memorable celebration of Old South Portland Jewish history. Selma Nepom and Bernard Brown recently commemorated their 65th wedding anniversary with a grand celebration of this memorable event hosted by their three children. With over 100 family…
