Babies
In Liberal Judaism, Jewish status can be transmitted through either a Jewish father or mother. For specific information and guidance about Jewish status, please contact Rabbi Janet Darley.
Being a parent of a child and deciding to raise him or her as Jewish is a wonderful opportunity to share in the rich heritage, wisdom and beauty of an ancient faith. Mixed faith families often struggle with the decision of how to raise their children and Rabbi Janet is happy to help you talk through issues and possibilities. In addition, it should be noted that families today do not all conform to the framework of a father, mother and child. We welcome and support all families including those with same-sex parents or mixed faith or single parents. Please call us to find out more.
Your child will be welcomed in a variety of ways.
For a boy the traditional ceremony would be a Brit Milah, normally performed on the eighth day after birth, by a Mohel/et (circumciser) who has been specially trained. The ceremony would of course be postponed in the case of any health concerns. The decision to have your son circumcised is often accompanied by anxiety. If you would like to talk anything through, please contact Rabbi Janet. For details of registered members of the Association of Liberal and Reform Mohalim, please contact the Synagogue office on 020 8769 4787 or by email.
Baby girls are welcomed into the Jewish people and our community with a ceremony written specifically for the occasion. Rabbi Janet will be happy to discuss details and help design a ceremony to meet your needs.
Your new child can be welcomed publicly with a Baby Blessing or Service of Thanksgiving. This ceremony is usually performed as part of a Shabbat morning Service and enables parents to thank God for the safe delivery of their child, together with relatives and friends, and allows members of our community to share this unique occasion welcoming the new child into the community. In our community, both parents are invited during the service to be on the bimah (the raised platform in the synagogue) regardless of whether or not they are both Jewish. No one else can fulfil the greatly honoured position of being the parent of a child committed to raising it in the Jewish faith.
Many parents follow the ancient custom of giving their child a Hebrew name. Rabbi Janet is always glad to help parents find appropriate Hebrew equivalents for names or to find out the meaning and English equivalents of Yiddish or Hebrew names traditional in their family.
B’nei Mitzvah
Like other Progressive communities, SLLS affirms the equal status of boys and girls in religious education and so offers ceremonies as part of a Shabbat Morning Service to mark Bar-mitzvah for boys and Bat-mitzvah for girls usually at the age of 13. At SLLS we believe that the Bar/Bat-mitzvah Ceremony is only one step in a process. In general, children would be expected to have attended Religion School for at least two years before the ceremony.
Kabbalat Torah
Recognising that Bar/Bat-mitzvah, although significant for many, does not in today’s society mark a child becoming an adult at age 13, Liberal Judaism has long encouraged young people to continue study for a further two years in order to develop a more mature and personal understanding of Jewish values.
Our Religion School offers classes which allow our young adults to explore further what Judaism means to them as young adults in the 21st Century. They are encouraged to think about issues in their lives and in society as a whole through the lens of Jewish tradition and Jewish values.
These studies culminate in a Kabbalat Torah service created jointly by the students and the Rabbi and led by the young people themselves.
Marriages
Our community is licensed in English law to perform marriages between two Jews, as defined by Liberal Judaism. In the Liberal Jewish liturgy and the Ketubah (the religious marriage contract) we affirm the equal status of both bride and bridegroom. All couples must be members of our congregation at the date of marriage.
To arrange a wedding service you need to contact us sufficiently in advance to allow time to make the necessary arrangements, to ensure the desired date is acceptable, and for you and the Rabbi to know one another well enough to make the service special.
In addition to the marriage ceremony itself, we offer an Aufruf as an opportunity for the Community to recognise publicly, congratulate, and share in the joy of the forthcoming wedding. An Aufruf refers to the ‘calling up’ of both the bride and bridegroom to the reading of the Torah at the Shabbat morning service before the wedding.
Commitment Ceremonies
Jewish couples who wish to mark their Civil Partnership with a Jewish ritual may speak with Rabbi Janet who will be delighted to help and advise on this. Liberal Judaism is the only branch of Judaism in the UK which has published a liturgy for such occasions, known as the Brit Ahava (Covenant of Love). The liturgy, edited and written by Rabbi Mark Solomon, can be developed to meet the needs of the couple.
Mixed Faith Wedding Blessings
We offer members a ceremony of blessing and dedication following a civil marriage or civil partnership with only one Jewish partner. Rabbi Janet has conducted several ceremonies and can support you in designing a ceremony especially for you. Couples must be civilly married or have signed the civil partnership register before this ceremony can be conducted.
Shabbat and Jewish festivals should be avoided for the civil ceremony when there is also the desire to have a Blessing Service. Please contact Rabbi Janet for more information.
Funerals
South London Liberal Synagogue has a dedicated section of the Cemetery in Rowan Road, Streatham. In common with other Liberal Jewish Congregations we allow non-Jewish partners of members to be buried in our section of the cemetery. In addition, Liberal Judaism permits cremation.
If you need help arranging a funeral, in the first instance contact the Administrator on 020 8769 4787, or Louise Freedman by email.
