Baby Namings/Welcome Ceremonies:
"Each child brings his own blessing into the world." — Yiddish Proverb.
There are many ways to welcome newborns and young children into the Jewish tradition. Boys are welcomed with a brit milah on the eighth day, and I am happy to work alongside a mohel to bring your son into the covenant of the Jewish people.
While there is no prescribed day to welcome a baby girl, we can work together to decide when the time is right to bring your daughter into the covenant of the Jewish people. Together, we will create a ritual that reflects the deep wisdom of Jewish tradition, alongside your hopes and dreams for your newborn. Your customized ceremony will be meaningful, participatory, and memorable.
Part of welcoming your child into the Jewish community includes selecting a Hebrew name. I will help you find the name that most aptly honors your ancestors or expresses your wish for them to embody specific traits or characteristics.
For each baby’s arrival, I will create a personalized experience that incorporates your family’s traditions in conjunction with Jewish traditions and customs. Through blessing, ritual, story and song, your new arrival will be surrounded by love, caring, and sharing as they are warmly welcomed into the Jewish community.
Commemorating Loss ~ Funerals, Memorials, Yahrtzeit
“A season is set for everything, a time for every experience under heaven…a time to be born and a time to die.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Losing a loved one is never easy. Many emotions may come to the forefront: sadness, grief, relief, confusion, anger, love, and overwhelm depending on the circumstances. Having an experienced rabbi to help navigate these trying times can be helpful and supportive. Thankfully, Judaism is filled with wisdom gleaned from the ages, wisdom that can bolster us during a difficult time. Jewish rituals allow the mourner to feel less alone and surrounded by community. As a ritual artist, Rabbi Amy will craft a ceremony for you that will be compassionate and empathetic providing a befitting farewell to your beloved.
“Amy Pessah was recommended to me when I was looking for someone to officiate at my brother’s memorial, and I am very grateful for that. In addition to creating a beautiful ceremony that’s both moving and meaningful, she generously offered up her support in any way that was needed. This type of assistance during such a difficult time in one’s life is priceless. I truly cannot recommend Amy highly enough. ”
Marking Sacred Transitions through Ritual
“Our goal should be to live in radical amazement.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
If you’re like most of us, you probably spend a good portion of your life rushing…or waiting…
…rushing to work
…rushing to the grocery store
…rushing to your child’s school play
OR
…waiting for your child to talk
…waiting for your next promotion
…waiting for your garden to grow
Most of us lead busy, hectic lives. We rush…and we wait…for things to happen. We might even envision life unfolding in a certain way. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it happens too fast and sometimes not fast enough. Often times we wish we could be more focused, less distracted, more present, less scattered.
Enter RITUAL. Ritual is a way to make the ordinary sacred. It marks, lifts up, and sanctifies the often times overlooked moments in our lives: first bicycle rides, losing a first tooth, moving up to middle school, arrival of menarche, going away to college, and many more precious events along life’s journey.
Rabbi Amy can help you craft a ceremony that helps to mark these special moments, allowing you to pause, reflect, and offer gratitude for these priceless memories.
Allowing us to slow down and be present in the moment.