Temple Beth-El

Life Cycle Events

Our clergy are available to assist Temple Beth-El members with all life cycle events, to support you and your family, to celebrate with you in times of joy and to guide you in moments of struggle, from the beginning of life to its inevitable culmination.

Adult Bat/Bar Mitzvah – Temple Beth-El offers adult b’nei mitzvah classes.

Adult Confirmation – Adult Confirmation is a group event.

Anniversary Blessings – Special erev Shabbat services are dedicated to couples with milestone anniversaries. These couples are acknowledged in the midst of the temple community and stand to receive a blessing during a dedicated time in the service.

Baby Naming – When a child is given a Hebrew name, both parents are on the bimah (pulpit) for this endearing ceremony, which is usually held at a Shabbat Service.

Bat/Bar Mitzvah – Becoming a bat or bar mitzvah at Temple Beth-El includes the study of Hebrew, learning the teachings of Torah, leading and participating in Shabbat services and performing mitzvot. In order to be properly prepared for one’s bat/bar mitzvah, in addition to the child’s formal learning in Temple Beth-El’s Religious School, there are individually scheduled meetings with the clergy. The bat/bar mitzvah date is set on our calendar up to three years in advance of the date of the ceremony.

Brit HaBat – In Reform tradition, we welcome our baby girls into the covenant with a special ceremony, ideally celebrated also on the eighth day of the child’s life. This ceremony parallels the brit milah ceremony for boys but with the obvious omission of circumcision.

Brit (Brit Milah) – Jewish Ritual Circumcision: A Jewish baby boy’s circumcision marks his entrance into the covenant (brit) with God. Circumcision is performed on the eighth day of a baby boy’s life. During the circumcision ceremony, a baby boy is given his name. The circumcision is performed by a mohel, a Jewish person who is educated in the relevant Jewish law and surgical procedures. While our rabbis are not trained mohels, our synagogue is often used for this ceremony and celebration.

Catering for Events – A wedding, bat/bar mitzvah, bris or other life-cycle event is a special occasion that we love to celebrate at our synagogue. W Kosher Events is the exclusive caterer for Temple Beth-El of Great Neck.

Cemetery – Plots are available for Temple Beth-El members at Beth Moses Cemetery, Farmingdale. You can purchase a plot by contacting Stuart Botwinick, Executive Director.

Confirmation – The emphasis during the two pre-Confirmation years is informal learning, with age-appropriate presentation of adult topics. The Confirmation ceremony for members of the tenth-grade class takes place on or near the holiday of Shavuot.

Consecration – At Temple Beth-El, consecration is one of the centerpieces of our Simchat Torah service. We complete one cycle of reading the Torah and immediately begin the next; we have extended hakafot (processions with the Torah) led by the leaders of our congregation and new members; we stand behind the Torah as it is completely unrolled; and in the center of all this, is the consecration of new Religious School students, as each receives a miniature Torah scroll commemorating the beginning of his/her Religious School study.

Funerals – Temple Beth-El clergy are available to conduct funeral services for members of the congregation and members of their immediate families. Both the Sanctuary and the Rudin Chapel are available to Temple Beth-El members for family funerals. Cemetery plots are available for Temple Beth-El members at Beth Moses Cemetery in Farmingdale.

High School Graduation – With the culmination of the many years dedicated to Jewish education at Temple Beth-El, this ceremony is created, written, and presented by the graduates.

Mourning/Shiva – Our Chesed Community minyan volunteers are available to conduct shiva minyanim in the home.

Remembering those who have died with a Memorial Plaque: For members who want to remember a loved one on the date of their yahrzeit, a plaque on our Memorial Wall in the Rudin Chapel is available for purchase. Lights will be lit on the Friday preceding the anniversary of your loved one’s passing and kept lit for the following week.

Unveilings – Temple Beth-El clergy are available to conduct unveilings for member families.

Wedding and Commitment Ceremonies – Temple Beth-El clergy are available to officiate at the wedding, commitment and renewal of vows ceremonies of member families.

Wedding Blessing/Auf-Ruf – At a Shabbat service prior to their wedding, the couple is called up to be blessed before the open Ark, asking for God’s blessings for them on their forthcoming marriage and life together.

A staff member in the office will be happy to assist in the coordination of any life cycle event. Please call 516-487-0900.