Honor the journey you’ve traveled and the wisdom you’ve gained with these meaningful active aging rituals. Designed to create space for reflection, celebration, and connection, our collection of aging rituals will help you honor life milestones, embrace transitions and navigate the aging process with compassion and grace.
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We wash our hands in the same way that the ancient priests would purify themselves before engaging in the Temple service. Since we no longer have a Temple, today our tables are our altars.
Wash your hands with water, pouring three times onto each hand, and recite the blessing. Maintain silence until everyone has finished washing, and are ready to break bread together. In place of speech, however, one is encouraged to sing.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָֽיִם
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al netilat yadayim. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Whose mitzvot add holiness to our lives and Who has given us the mitzvah of washing hands.
A woman of valor, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her worth.
Today’s woman of valor, she and she alone, determines her own worth.
Her husband’s heart trusts in her and he shall lack no fortune.
Today’s woman of valor trusts in herSelf, and her fortune is found in the size of her heart and how she wishes to share it; whether or not she shares it with a partner, spouse or lover.
She repays his good, but never his harm, all the days of her life.
Today’s woman of valor surrounds herSelf with things that are good for her and recognizes those that may do her harm. She focuses on how these things affect her before trying to change things outside of herSelf.
She seeks out wool and linen, and her hands work willingly.
Today’s woman of valor gives herSelf the time and space for creative expression, whether she does so by expressing herSelf through her work or through extracurricular activities.
She is like a merchant’s ships; from afar she brings her sustenance.
Today’s woman of valor knows that she needs to sustain her spiritual being as well as her physical being, her intellectual self as well as her emotional self.
She rises while it is still nighttime, and gives food to her household and a ration to her maidens.
Today’s woman of valor seeks a balance between work, rest and play; between the things she does and who she is.
She considers a field and buys it; from the fruit of her handiwork she plants a vineyard.
Today’s woman of valor dares to plant her own dreams and tend the garden of her soul.
She girds her loins with might and strengthens her arms.
Today’s woman of valor is comfortable with and confident in her sexuality and finds strength in her womanhood.
She senses that her venture is good, so her lamp is not extinguished at night.
Today’s woman of valor seeks adventure in her life and can light her way down any path she chooses.
She puts her hand to the distaff, and her palms support the spindle.
Today’s woman of valor seeks to do things, whether work or play, that fulfill her in all aspects of herSelf; the maiden, mother, and maven/the child, adult, and wise one within.
She spreads out her palm to the poor and extends her hands to the destitute.
Today’s woman of valor is generous of heart and spirit. She shares every facet of her prosperity with others.
She fears not snow for her household, for her entire household is clothed with scarlet wool.
Today’s woman of valor defines her own personal space and determines her own boundaries, honoring them as she chooses. She seeks to make her home a sanctuary; a place where she can be replenished and share time and space with those whom she loves.
Fine carpets she makes herself; linen and purple wool are her clothing.
Today’s woman of valor crafts her life to meet her needs, as well as her desires in every possible way. The way she speaks and moves, dresses and carries herSelf expresses who she is and how she feels about herSelf.
Well-known at the gates is her husband as he sits with the elders of the land.
Today’s woman of valor acknowledges and honors her experiences and the wisdom she has earned over time. She is not afraid of aging and knows that every wrinkle on her skin is a line in the story of her life. She trusts her instincts, does not judge and gives counsel when it is asked of her.
Garments she makes and sells, and she delivers a belt to the peddler.
Today’s woman of valor carefully chooses the items she uses in her daily life and the nourishment she takes into the temple that is her body. She is ever mindful of the footprint shes leaves upon the Earth.
Strength and splendor are her clothing, and smilingly she awaits her last day.
Today’s woman of valor strives to dwell in the here and now of life. She has learned from her past and looks forward to her future.
She opens her mouth with Wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Today’s woman of valor is ever conscious of her thoughts and actions and the effect they have on herSelf, others, and the world. She considers the way her words taste on her tongue and how they may be digested by those to whom she speaks. She allows the light of her heart to guide her.
She anticipates the needs of her household, and the bread of idleness, she does not eat.
Today’s woman of valor works to feed her own needs, as well as she feeds those of others. She knows that neglecting herSelf can lead to neglecting the other vital parts of her life.
Her children rise and celebrate her; and her husband, he praises her:
Today’s woman of valor mothers what she wants to nurture in her life. She actively loves herSelf, the people with whom she surrounds herSelf, and the universe. She makes an effort, no matter how great or small, to improve whatever she may want to change about herSelf, her life, the world.
“Many daughters have attained valor, but you have surpassed them all.”
Today’s woman of valor strives to build a support system of other women in her life. Whether they be friends, sisters, adult daughters or co-workers, she reaches out to the other women in her life.
False is charm, and futile is beauty; a G-d-fearing woman, she should be praised.
Today’s woman of valor is comfortable in her own skin. She possesses an inner beauty that radiates so strongly that it is the first thing one sees when they look at her. She is a living embodiment of the Divine Feminine and is aware of and celebrates the divinity within herSelf.
Give her the fruits of her labor, and she will be praised at the gates by her very own deeds.
Today’s woman of valor acknowledges and enjoys the fruits of her labors. She feels proud of all that she does in the world, whether great or small; of those whom she loves in the world, one and all. This is how today’s woman of valor lives her life. She is you and she is me. Kein y’hi ratzon! So may it be!
– Adapted from Proverbs 31:10-31 by Ahava Lilith EverShine (ritualwell.com)
A kavanah is the Jewish value dedicated to the act of creating an intention or engaging with the sincere feelings and direction of the heart.
DO: Think about your actions this past year. What are you most proud of, and what would you do differently?
SAY : “Who is a God like You, forgiving iniquity and pardoning the transgression of the remnant of Your people?”
DO : Think about your strengths and how they have helped you act from a place of compassion to enact positive change in your life and the lives of others.
SAY : “You do not maintain anger forever, but You delight in loving-kindness.”
DO : Think about your intentions behind the actions you have taken that you are not proud of. If the intentions were good, think about how you might translate them into new actions. If you don’t feel good about your intentions, think about how you’d like to respond differently in the year to come.
SAY : “You will again have compassion upon us, subduing our sins, casting all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
DO : Take a breath and envision letting go of your thoughts. Visualize them as crumbs, floating down a river. Now set a new intenion for how you’d like to treat others, and yourself, this year.
SAY : “You will show faithfulness to Jacob and enduring love to Abraham, as You promised our fathers from days of old. ”
Today, we close one chapter of our lives and begin another.
Every life of accomplishment contains many such passages
And our tradition marks these transitions with ritual and prayer.
When students complete a book of the Talmud
They often linger and celebrate the fulfillment of their efforts
In a lifetime filled with many chapters and completions.
Like them, we linger and celebrate all we received in this house
As we close one chapter of our lives and begin another.
We remember with gratitude the many blessings
We enjoyed under the shelter of this roof.
In this home, we built a haven from the outside world
Its walls protected us from the elements
Its light drove away the darkness that crouched at night
Its warm.th nurtured our love and gave us proof against the cold.
We remember with gratitude these many blessings.
We celebrate with joy the family we built upon this foundation.
Into this home, we poured our dreams and efforts
We shared our love and filled these rooms with youthful laughter
And an argument or two along the way.
We saw our children's feet slowly gain their footing
As they learned, all too quickly, to call another place their home.
Across these floors we walked and ran and danced in equal measure
We celebrate with joy the family we built upon this foundation.
We honor with affection all those who crossed this threshold with us
From the time we first turned the key in the lock until today
Through these doors we brought our children
And welcomed our friends and family.
With those who crossed this doorway
We celebrated our triumphs and joys and shared our sorrows and fears.
With them, we marked the holidays and the milestones of our lives
They helped make this house our home.
We honor with affection all those who crossed this threshold with us.
Today, we close one chapter of our lives and begin another.
May it be your will, Adonai our God, that just as you have helped us
Complete the chapter inscribed in walls, foundation and gates of this home
That you will help us to begin a new chapter in a new home.
When Jacob journeyed from Gilead, the angels of God encountered him.
When he saw them,Jacob said: "This is God's camp."
By leaving one home and making another we know do not leave God.
As we begin a new chapter of our lives,
We pray that our new home will provide us with the all the fulfillment
We enjoyed under the shelter of this roof and upon this foundation.
Cain Y'ehi Ratzon
All
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, shehecheyanu v'kyamanu v'higianu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are you, O God, sovereign of the universe, for granting us life, for sustaining us, and for bringing to this time.
—
Originally published in New Rituals for New Life Stages, edited by Rabbi Richard Address of Jewish Sacred Aging
When we are young, everything can feel like a first, worthy of celebration. First words, first steps, first days of school, we are new and discovering so much. When we mark milestones as an elder, we bring with us decades of wisdom and experience. We understand that some chapters of our lives must end so that new ones may begin. May these rituals help you to mark these milestones with joy and abundance.
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