Lifecycle

Here at TBE, we think expansively about what constitutes a “life-cycle event.” It’s not just birth, b’nei mitzvah, marriage, and death! Personal life-cycle events may include include getting a job, losing a job, a birthday, a miscarriage, news of a pregnancy, completing a year of mourning, finishing an art piece, marking a step in a gender transition, discovering something new about yourself, or any other important or transitional life event that it feels meaningful to ritually mark. Community members and guests are welcome and encouraged to reach out to Rabbi Brommer to discuss ways to ritually mark any of the above! And you are encouraged to use our Community Mikveh for immersions of all kinds including monthly immersions in observance of taharat mishpacha, spiritual cleanses before Shabbat and holidays, or personal life-cycle events. To learn more about the TBE Community Mikveh, click here!

We were all born! But each family has their own story. We know that family planning, fertility journeys, miscarriage, pregnancy, adoption, birth, and welcoming a new life into the world require a lot of physical, logistical, and spiritual energy. Our rabbi and community take pride in holding each other through these journeys. To set up a meeting with Rabbi Brommer for any pastoral needs, contact him at rabbi@tbeithaca.org. If you need help with logistics or even just a night where someone brings food to your door, get in touch with our Caring Committee co-chairs Rhoda Janis (rhoda.janis@gmail.com) and Marjorie Hoffman (marjorie@twcny.rr.com).

A bris and a simchat bat (also sometimes called a brit bat) are covenantal welcoming ceremonies for baby boys and baby girls respectively. Or, if you prefer a less gendered approach, they are welcoming ceremonies for babies with a penis, and babies without. Some choose to make this occasion a community-filled event while others prefer the privacy of their own home. Either way, Rabbi Brommer can meet with you, help your family prepare, and can officiate the ceremony in a loving and welcoming way. If you’re expecting a bris, our community will connect you to a skilled and welcoming mohel or mohelet (who performs the brit milah/circumcision procedure).

Temple Beth-El is proud to help welcome you into the Jewish people through a formal conversion process. Conversion to Judaism is a major life decision and should always be done in consultation and collaboration with a rabbi. Conversion to Judaism has three primary aspects: 1) a period of dedicated study about Jewish practice, traditions, ideas, texts, etc. 2) integrating that learning into one’s day-to-day practice, i.e. ‘doing Jewish.’ 3) the ritual conversion process. Rabbi Brommer regularly teaches an ‘Exploring Judaism’ class, which counts for the bulk of the period of formal study. To discuss conversion to Judaism, reach out to Rabbi Brommer for a chat!

Temple Beth-El is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and, as such, we navigate the sacred goal of being radically welcoming while holding ourselves accountable to a traditional understanding of halacha (rabbinic law). Within the framework of Conservative Judaism, ritual Jewish status means that someone was born of a Jewish mother or has completed a Jewish conversion or affirmation process. 

We excitedly welcome, and strive to be a spiritual home for Jewish families of all stripes. We know many people have a strong Jewish identity and Jewish family background that may be different from the above framework. Some may wish to ritually affirm their Jewish identity in order to couple their identity and their ritual status. Rabbi Brommer is always happy to have discussions about Jewish identity, Jewish descent, ritual status, and the like. Such discussions will always be approached with deep respect, dignity, and love as we strive to be a welcoming spiritual home for the entire Jewish people and their families.

Every Jewish person, whether they choose to formally celebrate the occasion or not, becomes b’nei mitzvah when they turn twelve or thirteen. That is, they reach the age of mitzvot, where they are held accountable to our tradition and the performance of the mitzvot (commandments), and are granted adult status in the ritual community. Studying towards a celebration of becoming b’nei mitzvah is a fabulous opportunity to do some really in-depth Jewish learning. It requires a lot of effort on the part of the B’nei Mitzvah Person and their family, and it’s also totally worth it. Our TBE Community is committed to making sure that the process of study and the Big Day itself are fun, meaningful, and personal for each family.

To learn more about the formal B’nei Mitzvah process, check out our TBE B’nei Mitzvah Handbook HERE.

Mazel tov! Our community loves to celebrate when people find their person! Reach out to Rabbi Brommer to discuss any of the many rituals that go into a wedding including talking about building a Jewish life together, aufruf, the wedding itself, Jewish home ritual, raising a Jewish family (if kids are your thing), and so much more.

We also know that family dynamics and Jewish dynamics can be challenging when it comes to weddings. Rabbi Brommer is always happy to have open, frank, and loving discussions about anything from queerness to kosher caterers to intermarriage. And no matter what, our community celebrates your love!

Our first priority as a community is the physical and spiritual care of our community. If a TBE community member or someone in your family is ill or in the hospital, our rabbi and our Caring Committee are happy to be resources. Rabbi Brommer makes regular hospital visits in person, and over the phone or video call. Our Caring Committee can help with short-term needs like transportation to appointments, meals, and social visits. Please get in touch with Rabbi Brommer (rabbi@tbeithaca.org) and/or our Caring Committee co-chairs Rhoda Janis (rhoda.janis@gmail.com) and Marjorie Hoffman (marjorie@twcny.rr.com).

שתהיה רפואה שלימה מן השמים לכל חולי העולם.
.​​​May there be complete healing from Hashem for all those ill in the world

Our rabbi and community are committed to dignity and care for those approaching the end of their lives, and their families. We make it a point to be present for people in difficult times, and if a loved one’s passing away is expected, Rabbi Brommer can make arrangements to join the dying person and their family for a vidui (end-of-life acknowledgment and confessional). We have active men’s and women’s chevrei kadisha who help arrange for the loving and dignified preparations for burial including tahara (ritual washing and dressing of the body and placement in the casket). Rabbi Brommer and community members help arrange for a funeral, burial, shiva, and beyond. We know the mourning process looks different for each family and each person and we will be with you on your journey.

Our goal is always to maintain traditional Jewish practices around end-of-life matters, and also follow as closely as possible the wishes of the deceased and their family. If you have particular questions about Jewish customs, please reach out to Rabbi Brommer (rabbi@tbeithaca.org).