Life Cycle Events

Births │ Illness/Bikkur Holim │Weddings │Deaths

Overview

BJ is committed to supporting you and your loved ones during both sad and joyous occasions. If you would like an announcement about any life cycle event to appear in our weekly newsletter, the Kol Jeshurun, contact Sarah Guthartz.

Births

BJ has many resources available to you and your baby, including ways to celebrate the birth and programs suitable for families with babies. We would love to treat you to a Shabbat dinner during your first week home with the baby, as well as a special onesie for BJ’s “newest member”.  By contacting BJ we can also ensure that your baby is added to our membership records. Contact Sarah Guthartz for more information.

Illness/Bikkur Holim

Bikkur Holim is the mitzvah of visiting the sick.  In the event of illness, BJ offers support through the Bikkur Holim Committee.  Additionally, view our page of useful Bikkur Holim tips.

Update: Our Mi Sheberakh List

Every Shabbat, we recite a Mi Sheberakh and pray for the healing of those in our community and in our families who are ill. Twice a year (on Hanukkah and on Shavuot), we will renew the list. Therefore, we kindly ask that you let us know if you or any of your loved ones are still in need of healing so we can update the list and continue to pray for those who need it. Requests can be made to Sarah Guthartz.

Weddings

Consider getting married at BJ!
To rent the sanctuary and/or Frankel Hall for a wedding, contact Guy Felixbrodt.

Consider having a BJ rabbi officiate at your New York wedding!
Only BJ members can be married by a BJ rabbi. Both people in the couple must be Jewish. To make arrangements for weddings and/or Aliyot Hatan veKallah (aufrufs), contact Sarah Guthartz.

Deaths

Contact B’nai Jeshurun immediately. During office hours, press 1 to speak to the Life Cycle Coordinator. After hours, call our office, 212-787-7600 and listen for the prompt to hear the phone number of the rabbi on call.

The Hevra Kadisha (Comforting Mourners) Committee
Co-chairs are Penny Dannenberg, Bob Gruenspecht, Michael Kadoch, Daniel Kestin, and Elissa Meth Kestin.
Committee members can perform tahara (preparation of the body for burial), and can provide siddurim and leaders for shiva minyanim. Contact the Hevra Kadisha Committee for assistance.

Plaza Jewish Community Chapel
For funeral services, BJ recommends Plaza Jewish Community Chapel because it is the only non profit and communally owned chapel serving the Jewish Community in New York.

BJ’s Cemetery Plots
BJ owns cemetery plots in the King Solomon Memorial Park section of the West Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton, NJ. For information on burial arrangements, contact Ron Seitenbach.