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Lifecycle Ceremonies with Jewish Gateways

Jewish and Interfaith Weddings

A white couple getting married and their officiant, Rabbi Bridget-a white woman with dark brown curly hair and glasses

Rabbi Bridget Wynne and Rabbi Stephanie Kennedy value the opportunity to work with each couple to create and officiate at a unique ceremony that reflects who they are, individually and together.

 

They welcome Jewish, interfaith, intercultural, and LGBTQIA couples.​

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To learn more about wedding officiation, email Rabbi Bridget or Rabbi Steph.

Welcoming a Jewish Child

Rabbi Bridget Wynne and Rabbi Stephanie Kennedy will be honored to work with you to plan and officiate, a ceremony to welcome a baby or child to your family and to the Jewish people. 

Whether you are a parent by birth or through adoption, married or single, and/or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Rabbi Bridget or Rabbi Steph will help you craft a ritual that reflects your values and creates a lifelong memory for you and your loved ones.

 

To learn more, email Rabbi Bridget or Rabbi Steph.

A parent holding a smiling new baby with dark hair.

Funeral or Memorial Service

If you would like to discuss arrangements for a funeral or memorial service, please email Rabbi Bridget or call her at (510) 545-9977, or you can reach Rabbi Steph by email or by phone at (510) 859-7866.

You may find general information on preparing for a Jewish funeral here, as well as a sample checklist on preparing for a Jewish funeral here. While these guides provide useful information, there are many personal considerations and options that they do not address, so please contact Rabbi Bridget or Rabbi Steph to discuss your situation and relevant questions.

Conversion to Judaism

If you are interested in learning more about conversion to Judaism, please email Rabbi Bridget or give her a call at (510) 545-9977, or email Rabbi Steph or reach her by phone at (510) 859-7866.
 

While every individual's experience is unique, here is some basic information about conversion.
 

The process begins with exploration. Here is one article about possible considerations.

Once you decide to pursue conversion, the first step is to find a rabbi who is a good match for you and will serve as your "converting rabbi." You and your converting rabbi will make a plan for you to learn about and experience the basic teachings and practices of Judaism, usually through a combination of participation in a class, personal study and practice, and participation in Jewish community activities.

The time this process takes varies from person to person, depending on factors such as how much you already know, your experience with Jewish life, and the amount of time you can put into learning as you move towards conversion.

Once you have completed the process and are ready to convert, your rabbi will guide you through rituals, usually including a ritual bath (mikvah), that affirm and celebrate your entrance into the Jewish people.

Other Lifecycle Ceremonies

There are many other Jewish lifecycle ceremonies. Some are part of a long tradition, and others have been created recently to mark transitions, change, loss, and growth in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

 

These include rituals for:

  • Young adults moving out on their own for the first time

  • Acquiring a driver's license

  • Hanging a mezuzah and blessing a home

  • Recovery from illness or trauma

  • Mourning miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death

  • Marking a gender transition

  • Celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary or renewal of vows

  • Retirement

  • Entering "elderhood"

  • Menopause

  • Moving into a retirement or assisted living facility

  • And more

 

If you'd like to explore one or more of these rituals or to discuss another lifecycle moment that might be marked by a Jewish ceremony, please email Rabbi Bridget or Rabbi Steph.

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