MY BLOG

In an intimate and simple ceremony, Peter & Greer got married in a museum gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut, with 15 people in the room: immediate family, a few close friends, and the people who knew them best and had watched this relationship grow from the beginning. Greer is Jewish, and Peter is not, and together they wanted a ceremony that honored her tradition while feeling welcoming and meaningful to everyone present.

If you've never attended a Jewish funeral, or are planning one and unsure what to expect, this guide is a good place to start. Jewish funerals follow a meaningful and intentional structure rooted in two core values: kavod ha-met, honoring the deceased, and nichum aveilim, comforting the mourners. Understanding what happens, and why, can make the experience feel less daunting and more meaningful.

A few months ago, I had the honor of officiating a baby naming ceremony for a little girl named Isla. Her parents chose the same Long Island City rooftop where they’d married during COVID, when only a handful could attend. Coming back to that same spot, this time with their daughter and the space filled with family and friends, made the whole morning feel like something that had been a long time coming!

If you've never attended a Jewish unveiling before, or if you're planning one and aren't sure what to expect, this is a good place to start. The unveiling is a significant Jewish lifecycle ritual that marks a poignant transition in the mourning process, offering both cultural and emotional closure.

Gemma's baby naming ceremony was a warm, intimate gathering to honor a tradition that stretched across generations. Gemma's English name honored her grandmother Gertrude, continuing a pattern of "G" names that dated back to her ancestors.

Jane and Simon were married on New Year’s Eve, a date that already held a special place in their story. They had met on New Year’s Eve years ago. A few years after that, they got engaged on the same night. By the time we began planning the wedding, it was clear that December 31 was more than just a date, but the thread that ran through their relationship right from the start.

One of the most common questions couples ask me when we start planning their Jewish wedding is also one of the hardest to answer simply: What is the role of God in my ceremony? And do I have to believe in God to have a Jewish wedding?

Both rabbis and cantors are trained clergy with deep knowledge of Jewish ritual. There is no hierarchy here, just different kinds of training and emphasis. Oftentimes, deciding who should be your officiant is more a matter of how you connect with the person and less about their training.

Pam and Ross's wedding in Mexico was more than a ceremony; it was a return to the roots of their shared journey, a celebration of their adventurous spirit that began when they first met while studying abroad. From the moment everyone arrived, the air buzzed with anticipation! After years of postponed plans due to the pandemic, the guests were eager to come together and finally celebrate.

Jeremy’s Bar Mitzvah took place at Metropolis Country Club in Hartsdale, a familiar gathering place for families in the area. The room was filled with people who watched him grow up, and who understood the long path he took to reach this moment. His journey, marked by unique challenges and triumphs, made the ceremony all the more meaningful.

The Silverman family gathered at the Southampton Social Club to welcome their youngest, Zachy, into the covenant of the Jewish people. I have also had the honor of officiating baby namings for his older siblings, Charles and Marin, so this ceremony felt like returning to something familiar and cherished, and was a super fun reunion!

While some wedding venues feel like a blank canvas waiting to be transformed, the TWA Hotel at JFK stands out with its sweeping curves, mid-century design, and view of the runways, making it a truly unique location. When Jackie and Sal chose that space for their wedding, they wanted something modern and alive, but also deeply personal. And that is exactly what they created!

We gathered at Sam’s of Gedney Way in White Plains for a baby naming ceremony that felt both simple and deeply meaningful. Family and friends came together to welcome two new children, Sally and Jason, into the covenant of the Jewish people.

When a loved one passes away, the world can often feel upside-down; sometimes static and sometimes moving too quickly. In these moments, Jewish ritual offers us a framework—a way of walking through the valley of loss step by step, guided by tradition, community, and memory. This guide is intended to be both a lantern and a checklist, helping you feel less alone as you make decisions about funerals, unveilings, and the days in between.

Jewish weddings are rich with tradition, and when two people stand beneath the chuppah, they step into an ancient narrative that continues to evolve through its present-day participants. For LGBTQ+ couples, that story should be told with the authenticity, joy, and dignity afforded to every person in the tribe. Jewish weddings are full of ancient beauty, but many rituals evolved in a gendered world where “bride” and “groom” were the only characters on the stage.

Spiritual counseling combines psychological insights with spiritual guidance, helping you align your strengths and values while addressing your struggles and hopes.

When planning a Jewish ceremony, understanding the order and significance of each element is crucial. These ceremonies are not simply a list of prayers or blessings to check off of a program. Instead, they represent a journey, weaving an arc that stretches from the past, through the present, into the future. This journey is part of what we call in Hebrew “hashalshelet ha-kabbalah”, the chain of tradition.

A baby naming is more than just a ceremony; it's a welcome and a moment when a new soul is folded into the fabric of family, community, and tradition. Whether your baby is just a few weeks old or already walking, this is your chance to formally welcome your child into the covenant of the Jewish people, and give your child a name to use in that community that carries meaning, history, and hope. These are the questions I walk through with families when we begin this sacred pla

So, you're planning a co-officiated wedding. First of all, mazel tov! Whether you're an interfaith cultural, intercultural, or simply hoping to bring together two traditions in a meaningful way, you're already choosing a path of intentionality, creativity, and love. Co-officiated weddings can get a little complex. It’s not just about logistics; it’s about meaning, representation, inclusion, and heart. There’s no one right way to do this, but there is your way. And I’m here t

After many years of helping couples to get it just right, I've learned that interfaith weddings are about more than just two people coming together. They’re about two families, two traditions, and two sets of memories merging to build a new shared future. Choosing which rituals to include is one of the most important (and most rewarding) parts of this journey.