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Life Cycle Halacha: Birth to Burial

Lesson 118 · מַעֲגַל הַחַיִּים

Lesson 61 introduced the life cycle vocabulary; this one goes deeper into the actual halacha governing each stage. Birth, brit milah, pidyon ha-ben, naming, bar/bat mitzvah, marriage (chuppa, ketuba), divorce (get), illness, death, shiva, sheloshim, yahrzeit. Knowing the laws, even as a non-observant person, lets you participate respectfully in any Israeli family event.

Cultural note, Most Israelis attend several life-cycle events per year, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, brises, shivas. Even non-observant Jews follow most of the laws automatically. The 7-day shiva is sacred, Israelis stop everything to "make a shiva visit" (לִקְרֹא שִׁבְעָה). Saying "הַמָּקוֹם יְנַחֵם אֶתְכֶם", "May the Place [God] comfort you", is the standard condolence phrase.

Birth & Naming

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Marriage (Kidushin & Nisuin)

Divorce (Gerushin)

Death & Mourning


Sheva Berachot: The 7 Wedding Blessings (excerpt)

Said under the chuppa and at every meal during the 7-day "sheva berachot" celebration after the wedding. The 6th blessing on joy is the most-quoted.

El Malei Rachamim: Memorial Prayer

The memorial prayer said at funerals, on yahrzeit, and on Yom HaZikaron (national memorial day). Spoken by a cantor over the deceased\'s name.