Women's Life Cycle Rituals

Women's Life Cycle Rituals

The CU Program in Jewish Studies and the CU Post-Holocaust American Judaism Collections

2017

2017 Embodied Judaism: SHE exhibit curated by Nan Goodman with curatorial advide from Sam Boyd, Gregg Drinkwater, Tirzah Firestone, and John Sheridan. Exhibit design by Andrew Violet in 2017. Digital exhibit coordination by Jane Thaler in 2017.

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English

EJ2017_SHE_009

Beginning in the 1970s, inspired by the recovery of Shekhinah, American Jews added two rituals to the Bat Mitzvah (a coming of age ceremony established in the 1920s initiating women
13 years and older into the religious tradition). The new rituals included Simchat Bat (a naming ceremony) welcoming baby girls, and Simchat Chochmah (a celebration of wisdom) welcoming women into their maturity. These rituals recognized girls and women at life stages parallel to those honoring boys and men.
13 years and older into the religious tradition). The new rituals included Simchat Bat (a naming ceremony) welcoming baby girls, and Simchat Chochmah (a celebration of wisdom) welcoming women into their maturity. These rituals recognized girls and women at life stages parallel to those honoring boys and men.