Meaningful Moments
A Jewish lifecycle event is so much more than a date on the calendar; it's an affirmation of who you are and the values that inform your life. At Masa Seattle, we want to fill these sacred life moments with personal meaning. We work with each individual, couple and family to make memories that will last a lifetime.
Welcoming New Life
Brit Milah/Simchat Bat/Baby Naming
As Jews, we celebrate and bless each new miracle that enters the world. If your family is growing or you have already welcomed a precious new addition, there are meaningful and sacred ways to mark your child's entry into the covenant with the help of our rabbi and loving community. We will walk you through the sometimes complicated steps of finding the best mohel for your son's bris (circumcision) or selecting the perfect welcoming ritual for your daughter. Need help choosing a Hebrew name for your little one? Do you already have a child but haven't given them a Hebrew name yet? We can help with all of that and more.
B Mitzvah
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah (although we prefer the gender inclusive term B Mitzvah) is so much more than a Shabbat service and a party. It's a coming of age ceremony where our young people publicly acknowledge their responsibilities as emerging adults in the Jewish community. At Masa Seattle, this can take many forms and is never one-size-fits-all. No two children are alike and each child approaches the B Mitzvah process with different talents, fears, dreams, skills and motivations. Since we see B Mitzvah as the beginning of a lifelong Jewish journey, not the end, we work with each of our students to build life skills that will serve them well as active and inspired Jewish adults. For some, that may be learning Hebrew and the Shabbat morning liturgy, but for others, it might mean organizing the community around a volunteer project, or expressing their creativity through art, theater or film. At Masa Seattle, we work one-on-one with your child to help them grow as an individual and create an experience that will have deep personal meaning for your family and a positive lifelong impact on your child.
Weddings
At Masa Seattle, we fully embrace the idea that "Love is Love" and our rabbi would be honored to bless your union. She has counseled many couples from very diverse backgrounds and, together, they've crafted unique and meaningful wedding celebrations and, more importantly, healthy and resilient marriages. Using a special pre-marital counseling program called Prepare and Enrich, our rabbi will set you up for an initial assessment to help you understand your unique strengths and growth areas as a couple. After completing the assessment, you will have 6 couples counseling sessions with our rabbi, who will work to set you on the right path to a happy marriage.
Conversion/Affirmation
Conversion, also known as gerut, is a time-honored tradition in Judaism. We have always welcomed others to join our ranks, and yet, as a religion that values sincere, personal choice when it comes to faith, we do not actively seek converts. However, we believe that our community is blessed by those who choose to join us in this exciting and sometimes difficult Jewish journey. This process begins with a robust course of study, but does not always follow a linear path. For some it takes years, for others, it might be a matter of months. Just as each Jewish journey is unique, so is every journey to Judaism. Our Rabbi will serve as your guide as you explore what it means to be a part of the Jewish people, choose a Jewish name, and formally enter the covenant between God and the Jewish people. ​
We also understand that in some circumstances, such as a genetic discovery, there are those who wish to affirm their Jewish identity without going through the entire conversion process. Our rabbi will work one-on-one with you to find a fitting way to formalize your commitment/re-commitment to the Jewish people.