Jewish Lifecycle

Chayei Yehudi · The Jewish Lifecycle — womb to tomb

Birth, , naming, b'nai , marriage, divorce, illness, death and mourning.

Tip: hover (or tap) any underlined word for a quick definition.

Name, translation, date and length — the facts to have by heart.

Why this exists, what happened, and the values it carries.

Birth: P'ru U'rvu, be fruitful and multiply, frames the beginning of Jewish life.
(bris): the covenant of circumcision when the baby is eight days old, performed by a , with a holding the baby — human partnership with God. Seven days are God's creation; on the eighth day we take over. The bris is postponed if the baby is not medically ready.
Baby naming: Mi Sheberach, an aliyah l'Torah and Shehecheyanu.
: redemption of a firstborn son, traditionally on the 31st day where applicable, involving Kohen, Levi and Yisrael.
Bat at 12 for girls and Bar Mitzvah at 13 for boys: assuming religious responsibility — and Jewish education continues well beyond the ceremony.
Marriage: , , , the bride circling the groom seven times, , , the — seven blessings recited over the cup of wine — and the seudat , with and , and .
Divorce: the (gett), given after the civil divorce is complete.
Illness: , Mi Sheberach, and — do not rely on miracles; passive and active euthanasia and suicide were curriculum discussion topics.
Death and mourning: and by the , , burial right away — within about 48 hours — in the ground in a Jewish cemetery, then sitting for seven days, , , , , the grave marker and its , and El Malei , with belief in the World to Come and T'chiat HaMetim.

Rituals, symbols, prayers and foods — and the reason behind each.

when the baby is eight days old (postponed if not medically ready) with a and .
Baby naming with Mi Sheberach, aliyah l'Torah and Shehecheyanu.
on the 31st day where applicable.
Bat at 12, Bar Mitzvah at 13.
Wedding: , the bride circles the groom seven times, , , , the — seven blessings over the cup of wine — , , seudat .
for divorce, after the civil divorce.
and Mi Sheberach in illness.
, , , burial within about 48 hours in the ground in a Jewish cemetery, for seven days, , , , , grave marker and .

enacts covenant in the body and expresses partnership with God: God creates for seven days, and on the eighth day we take over.
The symbolizes God's protection and the new Jewish home the couple is building.
The sets out the marriage's obligations in writing.
Seven blessings — the — are recited over the cup of wine, moving from the creation of the world to the joy of this couple: the wedding sits inside the whole story of creation.
The bride circles the groom seven times, matching the seven days of creation: the couple is building a new world together, and she encircles the home they are making.
The breaking of the glass recalls the destruction of the Temple — brokenness remains present even at the height of joy.
Prompt burial and honor the dignity of the body.
, , , and the grave marker give grief a structure and keep mourners inside community.

Chuppah: The new Jewish home the couple builds together.
Breaking the glass: Temple destruction; brokenness even in joy.
Ketubah: The marriage document and its obligations.
Seven circles: The bride circles the groom seven times for the seven days of creation — a new world built together.
Sheva Brachot: Seven blessings over the cup of wine, from the creation of the world to the joy of this couple.
Keriah: The tear in the garment; grief made visible.
Tachrichim: Simple shrouds; equality in death.

The Hebrew vocabulary for this topic.

Brit Milah: Covenant of circumcision, on the eighth day when medically safe.
Mohel: The one who performs the circumcision.
Sandek: The one who holds the baby at the brit.
P'ru U'rvu: Be fruitful and multiply.
Pidyon HaBen: Redemption of the firstborn son, traditionally on the 31st day.
Aufruf: Being called to the Torah before the wedding.
Ketubah: The Jewish marriage document.
Bedeken: The veiling of the bride.
Chuppah: The wedding canopy; the new Jewish home.
Kiddushin: The betrothal/sanctification portion of the wedding.
Sheva Brachot: The seven wedding blessings, recited over the cup of wine.
Hakafot (seven circles): The bride circling the groom seven times, for the seven days of creation.
Yichud: The couple's private time after the ceremony.
Chatan / Kallah: Groom and bride.
Mikveh: Ritual bath.
Get: The Jewish divorce document.
Bikkur Cholim: Visiting the sick.
Ayn Somchim al ha-Nes: We do not rely on miracles.
Taharah: Ritual washing and purification of the body.
Tachrichim: Plain burial shrouds.
Chevra Kadisha: The burial society.
Keriah: The tearing of a garment by mourners.
Shiva: The first seven days of mourning.
Sheloshim: The first thirty days of mourning.
Kaddish: The mourner's prayer.
Yahrzeit: The annual anniversary of a death.
Unveiling: The dedication of the grave marker.
T'chiat HaMetim: Resurrection of the dead.

Answer these out loud before you sit down with the rabbis.

1Take me through the Jewish lifecycle from womb to tomb.
2Explain : when, who, and what it means.
3Explain the wedding step by step and what the and breaking glass mean.
4How many blessings are said at a Jewish wedding, and why does the bride circle the groom seven times?
5Explain the stages of mourning: , burial, , , , , .
6Explain and .