We delight in welcoming our youngest members into the community through b’rit milot (circumcision) and baby naming ceremonies.

For families welcoming sons, we can recommend a mohel, and our rabbis can conduct the b’rit milah ceremony, which traditionally takes place on the eighth day after birth. We also offer naming ceremonies for boys whose circumcisions did not occur on the eighth day.

For families welcoming daughters, our naming ceremonies are a time for the rabbi and parents to bestow upon the child special blessings and her Hebrew name.

Naming ceremonies may be conducted in the synagogue or in a private home.

A bar/bat mitzvah ceremony is a special and emotional occasion celebrating a new stage in your child’s development, and the transformation in the role that they will play in the Jewish community as they turn 13. Preparation for a bar/bat mitzvah is also an exciting and rewarding process.

The TBI B’nei Mitzvah Program is designed to prepare our young members for the privileges and responsibilities of Jewish adulthood. It pairs group learning, which develops a sense of community, with private tutoring.

A B’nei Mitzvah ceremony at TBI can be tailored to suit your child and family. It may take place at any service when Torah is read (Shacharit Shabbat, Minchah Shabbat, or a Monday or Thursday service), and may be more or less traditional.

Click here for B’nei Mitzvah education resources.

The diversity of the Jewish community means that not everyone has the opportunity to become bar or bat mitzvah at the traditional age of 13. There are, therefore, opportunities for an adult to become a bar or bat mitzvah.

TBI offers tailored study programs, either individually or as a group, for adults wishing to be called to Torah as a bar/bat mitzvah.

There is also a tradition in Judaism that when one turns 83 one celebrates a second bar or bat mitzvah. This is a wonderful and unique way to celebrate a milestone, and can be marked either with an aliyah la torah (call-up to Torah) or by the individual leyning (chanting from the Torah).

In its most basic form, a Jewish wedding simply codifies a contract between two individuals. From the standpoint of Jewish law all that is required is for both parties to sign a ketubah (wedding contract) in the presence of two witnesses, or for the groom to give his bride, in the presence of two witnesses, a simple metal ring with words of promise of a life together. Other meaningful rituals include the use of a chuppah (canopy) and the breaking of the glass.

A TBI wedding honours Jewish heritage while encouraging couples to express their individuality. Couples learn about the traditional rites, but have the opportunity to adapt them in a personally meaningful way.

We welcome and celebrate all members of our diverse community, including same-sex attracted couples.

A TBI wedding ceremony may take place either at TBI or in a suitable external location.

The death of a loved one is difficult under any circumstances, but with the support of the TBI community, you need never face it alone.

For those nearing death, and for their loved ones, our rabbis provide comfort, guidance, blessings, and assistance with funeral arrangements.

We recommend Melbourne’s Progressive Jewish Funeral service – Bet-Olam Jewish Funerals.

Funeral services are generally held at the Jewish Memorial Gardens, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, but can also be conducted in the Jewish sections of other cemeteries.

On the evening of the funeral, minyanim (evening prayers, including memorial prayers for the deceased) are held either at TBI or in a family home.

TRIBE is a customised, year-long program of adult Jewish learning offered by TBI and developed and presented by Rabbi Gary Robuck, to support individuals and families interested in deepening their knowledge and experience of Judaism.

The reasons why a person might consider converting are varied, and no two people have the same journey towards Judaism. The TRIBE program is designed to allow participants to choose their level of engagement and involvement.

For more information, please contact us.