Jewish life is enriched by the rituals attached to the milestones – birth, bar/bat mitzvah, wedding, anniversary, end-of-life – that punctuate our lives The sanctity of Jewish ritual binds us to generations of Jews who have come before us and to the continuity of our people. We create significant memories by sharing these times with family and friends.
Chabad CHAI Center is here to share your greatest joys and to provide comfort in life’s most difficult times. Being a community means sharing life’s greatest milestones together. Our facility is available for all your life cycle events.
Read more about Jewish Life Cycles, here.
BRIT MILAH & BABY NAMING: We celebrate the great blessing of a newborn with a ceremony that brings them into the covenant, and confers upon them a Hebrew name. A girl is named at a Torah reading (on Shabbat, Monday, Thursday, holidays or Rosh Chodesh), and a boy is named at his Brit Milah.
A Brit Milah (also known as a bris) is the ceremony that welcomes a baby boy into the Jewish community through the ritual of circumcision on the eighth day of his new life. We can help you get you in contact with a Mohel (ritual circumciser), help the parents understand the ceremony, and co-officiate, along with the Mohel. The ceremony can be held in the home or at the synagogue.
In these powerful ceremonies, the parents confirm their family’s participation in the eternal commitment between G‑d and the Jewish people and their affirmation of Jewish life for another generation. We can work with you to think through and design your ceremony in a way that merges Jewish tradition with your family’s needs.
BAR/BAT MITZVAH: Our young teens prepare for this milestone through a combination of religious school and Hebrew classes, plus tutoring and consultation with the rabbi. The ceremony can be held at Chabad or at a venue of your choice. We will meet with you to craft a ceremony that meets your needs. Click HERE for more information.
MARRIAGE: In preparation for the joyous occasion, the bride and groom will meet with the rabbi to learn about the Jewish perspective of weddings and marriage – from Ketubah (marriage document), to Kiddushin (engagement) to Chuppah (marriage canopy) to Nissuin (marriage ceremony) to breaking the glass. Rabbi Mendy can perform the ceremony, walking your guests through the rich meanings behind the rituals.
END-OF-LIFE: Our tradition offers several powerful end-of-life rituals – Kriah (tearing of a garment), Levayah (funeral procession), Hesped (eulogy), Kevurah (burial) and Shivah (seven days of mourning). Rabbi Mendy can perform the funeral ceremony, an unveiling (brief graveside ceremony) and help you understand and implement other meaningful Jewish mourning practices.
YARTZEIT & KADDISH: We never forget our departed loved ones. Moreover, Jewish tradition teaches that we can posthumously bring great honor to honor those souls. The Kaddish prayer is recited for the first year after a loved one's passing, and on their yartzheit (anniversary of their passing), and the Yizkor Memorial prayer is recited four times throughout the year. Please click HERE for more information.
We can arrange for a minyan (service) for those who are observing a yartzeit and want to recite kaddish. Please email Rabbi Mendy at rabbimd@chabadsouthtampa.com
SPONSORING A KIDDUSH: A Kiddush Luncheon is a light lunch that follows services on Shabbat and holidays. Celebrate your birthday, anniversary, or other family occasions by sponsoring a Kiddush. It is a beautiful way of sharing your personal celebration with the community. For more information or to reserve a date, please contact us at info@chabadsouthtampa.com