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Jewish Life

Your source for everything Jewish: culture, rituals, and gateways to connection, plus so much more! Stories, recipes, rituals, culture, rabbinic responses and connections -- all with one easy click.

In all aspects of life, Jewish heritage offers practices and perspectives that enrich our lives and draw us closer to friends, family and community. Together with our partners, the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County enables access and exposure to educational opportunities and cultural programs for Jews of all ages and all levels.

Jewish Rituals

Check here for a weekly D'var Torah

Brief thoughts on each week’s Torah portion and its connection to our lives, written by our community’s clergy and educators.

Shabbat Candlesticks

A special warmth...a special glow. You can feel your sense of well-being grow. Welcoming Shabbat is something we do together, wherever we are. Turning your house into a Jewish home by lighting the Shabbat candles. It is a mitzvah for Jews to light candles to usher in Judaism's Day of Rest and it is a mitzvah for Jewish men and women to light Sabbath candles on Friday night.

Mezuzah

The mezuzah is one reminder of the commandments. "And you shall write [the words that I command you today] on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." -Deuteronomy 6:9, 11:19.

While the word mezuzah can be interpreted in more than one way, what it symbolizes means only one thing: that the people living in a particular home are Jewish, and proud to exhibit that fact.

Tallit

"Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast hallowed us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us to enwrap ourselves in the fringed garment."

A tallit (prayer shawl) is worn during morning prayers, used to wrap a baby at a naming, a gift to a bar/bat mitzvah, as a chuppah (canopy) to stand under at a wedding, wrapped in at the time of burial, and worn on Kol Nidre, the beginning of Yom Kippur.

Jewish Weddings

A Jewish wedding is full of ritual, symbolism, relations and obligations. It is a ceremony that follows Jewish law and traditions. Features of a Jewish wedding include a ketubah (marriage contract) signed by two witnesses, a wedding canopy (chuppah or huppah), a ring owned by the groom that is given to the bride under the canopy, and the breaking of a glass. Learn the simple steps to planning a meaningful Jewish wedding here.

Brit Milah

The brit milah "covenant of circumcision" is a Jewish religious circumcision ceremony performed on 8-day-old male infants by a mohel. The brit milah is followed by a celebratory meal (seudat mitzvah). Judaism views body and soul as holy partners in serving G-d. Therefore, the brit is performed on the most physical part, for all of man is holy before his Creator. Brit Milah joins the forces of body and soul together in serving G-d.

Community Synagogues

Synagogues are gateway institutions to Jewish life for all ages. They are places of spiritual guidance, lifelong learning, social activity, community, and comfort and healing. Federation encourages you to join an area synagogue and become connected with your friends and neighbors through meaningful worship, innovative programs and Jewish learning at all levels. Know the local temples and synagogues in our community.

Community Directory

Interested in Advocacy, Israel, Business, or Education? In need of local services, - religious, medical or other? The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County is dedicated to being your connection to the Jewish resources you need. Take a look through our Community Directory. We're confident you'll find what you are looking for.

Jewish Authors

Jews have been called "The People of the Book." We read them...and we write them! Following is a list of Jewish authors whose writings you may want to investigate. Some of them you may be familiar with; others might be new to you. Regardless, they offer a host of different topics and writing styles. Meet some of those authors here.

The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County

Jewish Life

Jewish Life

Jewish Rituals

Check here for a weekly D'var Torah

Shabbat Candlesticks

Mezuzah

Tallit

Jewish Weddings

Brit Milah

Jewish Connections

Community Synagogues

Community Directory

Jewish Culture

Jewish Authors

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