Every day is a celebration of creation. Every hour holds beginnings and endings, passages and milestones, comings and goings, recoveries and illnesses, births and deaths. Judaism recognizes the significant and ordinary events of every day, week, month, year and lifetime with prayer, ritual, study and community. The Temple Emanuel community takes an active role in the life cycle events of our members.
Our clergy are always available to help guide our members throughout their life cycle, officiating at appropriate ceremonies and offering pastoral counseling upon request. Please contact us to let us know how we can help you with your simchas and the sorrows of life.
Bris and Baby Naming
The Torah commands us to circumcise our newborn sons (bris) on the eighth day of their new lives. For information on Mohels and to help plan this special occasion in your family’s life please contact our office. A baby naming can be done at any age and our clergy can help choose an appropriate Hebrew name for your child. This event usually occurs during our Friday evening Shabbat service, our Shabbat morning chapel services or our Sunday congregational sanctuary service. Families can also sponsor an Oneg or Kiddush.
Wedding
Our clergy can help you prepare for this wonderful, joyous occasion by teaching the couple the meaning of the ceremony, from the Ketubah signing to breaking the glass. Counsel is also provided, offering Jewish wisdom in preparation for a life dedicated to love and companionship. Weddings can be scheduled through the rabbi or temple office. You do not need to be a Temple member.
Funeral
The Temple Emanuel clergy and community support members in their time of need. Our clergy are available to guide you on end of life rituals, perform the funeral ceremony, and help you understand and implement meaningful Jewish mourning practices.
Chapels
- Goldman Funeral Home (Harvey/Jay Goldman)
- Levine Chapels
- H.L. Farmer and Sons Chapel (Deke Farmer)
Gravestones
Cemetery
Temple Emanuel has a proud history of serving all aspects of religious life in the Jewish community since the congregation’s founding in the early twentieth century. In support of that commitment, in 1941, we established a cemetery for our congregation on more than seven acres in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Our Cemetery Committee oversees the maintenance of the grounds and also manages the perpetual care of the property and gravesites. The cemetery is professionally landscaped and maintained year-round, through the committee’s Perpetual Care Fund.
Temple members and others who may be interested in touring the facilities and/or purchasing available cemetery plots should direct their inquiries to Jonathan Samel.
Unveiling
The unveiling is the dedication of the headstone at the grave of a loved one. Traditionally this is conducted prior to the one-year anniversary. Our clergy can assist you with this ritual. Please refer to the prayer pamphlet below or call the office for assistance.