Welcoming Newborns

“Oh God, the soul You gave me is pure:
You created it, You fashioned it and You breathed it into me”
Morning blessing

The Jewish people have always welcomed boys into the covenant, formally marking the occasion with celebration and circumcision. The birth of a girl, while met with joy, may not always have a traditional ritual or communal celebration associated with it.

At Etz Chayim, we offer a variety of ways to formally welcome both boys and girls, whether by birth or adoption, whether by brit milah, [circumcision for boys] or by simchat bat, or brit bat [for girls] or another appropriate ceremony.

Please contact us to discuss how you would like to welcome your little one into the Jewish community, which may include blessings and/or being called to the Torah on Shabbat.

Bar & Bat Mitzvah
Becoming a Jewish Adult

“In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.”
- Ann Landers

Is the B’nei program at Etz Chayim right for your family?

There are many programs available for those wanting to celebrate becoming a Jewish adult. Some focus on the coming of age and what it means to become an adolescent (rather than a full-fledged adult) – the challenges, the responsibilities, and the benefits. Others help students learn the minimum three verses to read from the Torah or the Bracha (blessing) when being called to the Torah. Some students learn to deliver a Dvar Torah (a speech about either a Jewish value or the Torah portion of the week) and some people simply have a party when they come of age. There are programs that focus on the social values and actions inherent in our Jewish tradition, teaching about these values and finding opportunities for students to fulfill mitzvot based on the social values. 

At Etz Chayim, we aim to combine a number of elements – understanding the meaning of coming of age, emphasis on understanding and actualising Jewish values, and developing the skills and confidence to read from the Torah and lead a community in prayer – while also learning about Jewish traditions in an egalitarian environment strongly situated within our community. Our students learn as a group, preparing for their B’nei Mitzvah ceremonies based on their abilities and interests with the bonus of group bonding and forming connections to the community.

We believe that becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah endows students with the gift and responsibility of being a Jewish liaison in the wider Australian community, and thus we aim to prepare them with a well-grounded understanding of our tradition. We also encourage individual thought, challenge, and questioning, enabling students to make sense of Judaism on their own terms. We believe that by encouraging our B’nei Mitzvah students to “own their Judaism” they will feel a sense of authenticity and pride in their Jewish identity and value and cherish both the preparatory experience as well as the Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony.

At Etz Chayim, we recognise that being Jewish is not only about prayer and the Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony, but about making Jewish choices based on Jewish values. As the Israelites said after G-d gave them the 10 commandments – naaseh v’nishma – we will do and we will hear (and understand), we too impress upon our students and their families the importance of action, and they embark upon their mitzvah projects and encourage their participation in wider events consistent with our Jewish values.

We also emphasise the importance of family and community, welcoming parents, siblings, and grandparents to their presentations, encouraging learning about both their own family stories and the stories of our Jewish people. We also encourage them to participate in communal events reminding them that becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah is not just something celebrated in their family, but in the wider Jewish world, their larger family.

As the Mishna says, “According to the effort is the reward” (Pirkei Avot 6:26). In other words, the more they put into the process the more meaningful the process becomes. 

To find out more, please contact us.

Marriage & Committed Relationships

Jewish tradition is rich in wedding customs. At Etz Chayim, we would be delighted to help you design your own ceremony which may include pre-wedding customs such as ten’aim [engagement)] during which it is customary for the couple’s mothers to break a plate, the bedecken [the veiling of the bride and modern alternatives], and the tischen [literally, ‘tables’ where grooms and/or brides receive blessings and enjoy other rituals immediately prior to the wedding ceremony]. 

To find our more, please contact us.

Bikkur Cholim - Visiting the sick

Etz Chayim has a long tradition of being a caring, warm and supportive community and one of the ways in which we meaningfully express this is through Bikkur Cholim.

We have a wonderful team of committed volunteers who form our Bikkur Cholim Committee. They keep track of and regularly visit people who are unwell, in hospital, in special care facilities, or are primarily homebound. Their friendly presence often alleviates some of the loneliness or discomfort people can feel from time to time. At Etz Chayim, we want our members to know that we are here for them in good times and bad.

Please let the office know if you, or anyone you know, would like a visit. Alternatively, we welcome anyone who would like to join the group.

End of Life

“The only truly dead are those who have been forgotten.”
- Jewish Proverb

Judaism places great emphasis on living life fully and generously, but recognises death is an inevitable end and, therefore, also part of life. Most Jews, including those who have distanced themselves from Jewish practice, seek the comfort of tradition in the face of death. For mourners whose lives are often turned upside down by death, the traditional practices of mourning can provide structure and comfort.

Melbourne is privileged to have a progressive Jewish funeral service, Bet-Olam Jewish Funerals. Its practices are grounded in the unshakable belief in the sanctity of human life, the dignity of the person, and the emotional and spiritual needs of the mourners.

Bet-Olam seeks to maintain the customs and traditions of the Jewish people, to help the mourners provide a funeral for their loved ones with the greatest respect and dignity, and to support the mourners. Funeral services are generally held at the Jewish Memorial Gardens which is part of the Springvale Botanical Cemetery and are conducted by Progressive Rabbis. Bet-Olam also conducts funerals in the Jewish sections of other cemeteries.

Please visit Bet Olam Jewish Funerals for more information or call 9883 6237.