This Ritual Life Archive

Welcome to This Ritual Life.

Here you will find out about ways to enhance your holiday experience, to celebrate or mark a meaningful life cycle event, and to deepen your experience of the everyday. Our authors are especially interested in hearing your responses to what they have written. So after reading, visit the Ritual Life discussion forum where you can join in conversation with CLAL faculty and other readers.

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Completing the study of something important

You have just completed the study of an important book. it might be a novel, works of poetry, or a scientific study ; it might be a book of Torah, rabbinic commentary or Jewish history. You know that what you learned is important because it has changed you. You may understand something you did not grasp before; you may have the capacity to feel something you did not know you could feel. You also know the book is important because you realize you can never leave it behind-not permanently, anyway. You will return to it, again and again, for you know it has more to teach you, as you have only begun to grasp its depths. And so you hold a joyous gathering at which you share the satisfaction you feel at the end of your study and give your friends and family a glimpse at a book that has changed your life-and could change theirs as well.

MEDITATION

May good come to me, because whenever I see a scholar complete a tractate, I declare it a holiday for all who learn. (TB Shabbat 118b-119a)

RITUAL

Gather friends and family to join you to celebrate the study you have completed. This is called a siyyum. Describe the book you have read, trying to communicate why it has meant so much to you and how it has changed your life. Read aloud a brief passage which conveys why it's been so important. Invite others to reflect on the passage with you. Finally, toast, "L'Chaim!"

BLESSING

(As you complete your celebration)

I bless the Source of wisdom who grants me the ability to read and understand. I am grateful for this great book and for being able to grow through its teachings. May I return again and again to this beloved book.

TEACHING

May good come to me, because whenever I see a scholar complete a tractate, I declare it a holiday for all who learn. (TB Shabbat 118b-119a)

Torah which is studied on its own merit (Torah lishmah) is a Torah of loving kindness, whereas Torah which is studied for an ulterior motive is not a Torah of lovingkindness. And some say that Torah which is studied in order to teach is a Torah of loving kindness… (TB Sukkah 49b)

Hadran alekha

I shall return to you

(CLAL faculty)

CLAL's National Jewish Resource Center develops and publishes rituals that help to bridge the gap between our contemporary lives and the ancient wisdom of the Jewish tradition.