This britLit. Covenant. Judaism is defined by the covenant - the contract between the Jewish people and God. God promises to make us abundant and to give us the land of Israel; we promise to obey God's commandments. This covenant begins with Abraham and is reiterated throughout the Torah. A brit milah, literally a covenant of circumcision, is often simply called a brit or bris. hitvada’ut (“covenant of coming out”) is a new ritual and liturgy intended for individuals coming out in Jewish communities. It can also be adapted for people of all faith backgrounds, and for groups to recognize or honor GLBT people in general.
The ritual combines elements of birth ritual and bar mitzvahLit. Commandment. It is traditionally held that there are 613 mitzvot (plural) in Judaism, both postive commandments (mandating actions) and negative commandments (prohibiting actions). Mitzvah has also become colloquially assumed to mean the idea of a “good deed." ritual, and is intended to last approximately fifteen minutes. After an invocation and introductory passage, there is a ritual enacting the mikvaThe ritual bath. The waters of the mikveh symbolically purify – they are seen as waters of rebirth. A convert immerses in the mikveh as part of conversion. Many Orthodox married women go to the mikveh following their period and before resuming sexual relations. Couples go to the mikveh before being married. Many, including some men, immerse before Yom Kippur; some go every Friday before Shabbat. (ritual bath), in which forty steps are taken to reflect the forty units of water in the ritual bath. The community, rather than water, acts as the physical “bath,” which in Jewish tradition marks transition and rebirth. Next follows a reading, intended to be read to the person coming out by their community. Finally, the ritual concludes with two blessings/statements of commitment. First the rabbi (or other leader in the community) bestows a blessing upon the celebrant, and commits to honoring and respecting him/her. Next, the celebrant asks for blessing upon her/himself, and commits to honesty, love, and other important values.
There is space throughout for personalization, improvisation, cuts and pastes. Part 3 or part 4 could be done independently. The ritual could be omitted if only a textual service is desired—or the reading could be omitted if the physical ritual is of more interest. In addition, the entire ritual can be deepened if, prior to the ceremony, the celebrant attends an actual mikva and immerses according to tradition. Immersing in the mikva is done before conversions, weddings—anytime there is a rebirth or renewal.
Hebrew versions of the blessings at the end are available upon request, as are Biblical, Kabbalistic, and other citations to references within the text.
Brit Hitvada’ut: A Coming Out Ceremony
1 . INVOCATION
To be recited by a rabbi, friend, or leader of the community.
Then JosephJacob's eldest son by his beloved wife, Rachel. Joseph, the dreamer, was his father's favorite and nearly murdered by his brothers. Sold into slavery, he became viceroy of Egypt where he ultimately saves the Egyptians and also his own family from starvation. His Hebrew name is Yosef/ could no longer restrain himself before all who stood before him. And he cried, “Go away from me – everyone!” And none of them stood beside him, and Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and he gave over his voice to crying…. And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near to me.” And they came near. And he said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.” (Genesis 45: 1,4)
And Joseph made himself known – hitvadah Yosef. This is the Hebrew word for coming out: hitvada’ut. From the root yada’, to know. As AdamAdam is the first human being created by God. Symbolizes: Creation, humankind. knew his wife, as we all know the deepest truths of ourselves. And as we occasionally, at sacred moments such as this one, make them known to others.
We are here for just such an occasion: to mark, as a community, the coming out of __________ as ____________. Why gather together to mark this occasion, with words and with ritual? Because as the story of Joseph relates, coming out is also coming near. Come near — let me tell you my truth. Come near — let me count you in the circle of intimates. And so, like Joseph’s brothers, we come near, as a community.
We are also here to celebrate love, since that is the essence of what is being proclaimed today. There are those, including many in our own religious community, who say that love is a choice, and that some kinds of love are the wrong choice. But as the Song of Songs says, “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can floods drown it.” Love is not the sort of thing one chooses—like God, love chooses you. Like God, love chooses you. The question is: how will you respond?
Today is a response. A response of kedushaLit. Holiness – holiness; brachaA blessing – the acknowledgment of blessing; and brit – a statement of commitment. But first, please join me in marking this occasion with the traditional blessing of thanksgiving:
Baruch ata Adonai, eloheinu melech ha’olam, shehechiyanu, v’ kiyemanu, v’ higiyanu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are you, God, who fills and rules the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.
2 . RITUAL
The explanation preceding the ritual may be spoken by the rabbi or a member of the community. If the celebrant immersed in the mikva prior to the ceremony, the words in the brackets are added.
Coming out, hitvada’ut, combines two classical Jewish rituals: birth and bar/bat mitzvahComing of age, one responsible for the commandments. At the age of thirteen for a boy and twelve for a girl, s/he obtains the age of Jewish majority and is obligated to all the commandments. Usually celebrated with an aliyah to the Torah and other festivities. In many communities both bar and bat mitzvah are celebrated at age 13. The plural of bar mitzvah is b'nei mitzvah. The plural of bat mitzvah is b'not mitzvah.. First, like the many heroes of our tradition who learn, or reveal, their true identities later in life — AbrahamAbraham is the first patriarch and the father of the Jewish people. He is the husband of Sarah and the father of Isaac and Ishmael. God's covenant - that we will be a great people and inherit the land of Israel - begins with Abraham and is marked by his circumcision, the first in Jewish history. His Hebrew name is Avraham., SarahThe first matriarch, wife of Abraham, and mother of Isaac, whom she birthed at the age of 90. Sarah, in Rabbinic tradition, is considered holy, beautiful, and hospitable. Many prayers, particularly the Amidah (the central silent prayer), refer to God as Magen Avraham – protector of Abraham. Many Jews now add: pokehd or ezrat Sarah – guardian or helper of Sarah., JacobLit. heel Jacob is the third patriarch, son of Isaac and Rebecca, and father to the twelve tribes of Israel. More than any of the other patriarchs, Jacob wrestles with God and evolves from a deceitful, deal-making young man to a mature, faithful partner to God. His Hebrew name is Yaakov., Joseph, EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. — so too ________ is being reborn today. And second, s/he is becoming a full, healthy adult, with privileges and responsibilities.
In the Jewish tradition, the ritual for being “reborn” is the mikva, the pool of living water used before weddings, conversions, and at other sacred moments of transition. [Earlier, ____ immersed in the mikva according to tradition.] Now, we will re-enact the mikva as a community.
According to tradition, the mikva must contain 40 units of water. Forty is the number of transition and rebirth in the Jewish tradition. MosesThe quintessential Jewish leader who spoke face to face with God, unlike any other prophet, and who freed the people from Egypt, led them through the desert for forty years, and received the Torah on Mt. Sinai. His Hebrew name is Moshe. spent forty days on Mount SinaiAccording to the Torah, God, in the presence of the Jewish people, gave Moses the Torah on Mount Sinai (Har Sinai).. The Flood rains fell for forty days. The Israelites spent forty years in the desert. And now, ______ will take forty steps, surrounded by our community, at the end of which we will welcome him/her as a new person, reborn, renewed.
At this point, the congregation should either form a circle, or clear a passageway through the group. As the congregation sings a niggunA wordless melody. (wordless melody) or favorite song, the celebrant either walks along the inside of the circle, making eye contact with each person, or walks through the passageway. The celebrant should take forty steps — slowly, one step at a time. To count the steps, either a friend or relative can walk with the celebrant and keep track, or a drumbeat could be sounded on each step so people can count.
3 . READING
After the celebrant has taken forty steps, s/he turns and faces the congregation. The following passage is then read to the celebrant by family, friends, and community, with loved ones each reciting a stanza. Alternatively, the poem may simply be read on the bimahThe stage or platform on which the person leading prayers stands. while the celebrant sits or stands nearby.
As Esther revealed herself to the king,
As Joseph revealed himself to his brothers;
So you have revealed yourself to us
So we see you
So we honor you
As Jacob was transformed into IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel.
As Sarai was transformed into Sarah,
So you have been transformed
By your courage
By your honesty
As HannahHannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel, who, through her prayers, is rewarded a child. She herself is also considered a prophet. Hannah's intense devotional style of prayer becomes the model, in rabbinic Judaism, for prayer in general. when she prayed for a son
As Abraham when he bargained to save souls
So you have been honest, righteous, holy
So we hear you
So we honor you
As the Israelites came out of Egypt
As David, ElijahElijah is a biblical prophet who is said never to have died. There are therefore many legends associated with Elijah. In the Talmud, unresolved arguments will be resolved when Elijah comes. He will herald the coming of the messiah. In Jewish ritual, Elijah is a liminal figure, arriving at moments of danger and transition – at a brit milah, a chair is put out for him, a cup is poured for Elijah at the Passover seder, and he is invoked at havdalah. His Hebrew name is Eliyahu., Jonah, and Tamar all came out of hiding
So you have come out
Of constriction
Of secrets
As Moses stood before Pharaoh
And as Zelofchad’s daughters stood before Moses
So you stand against injustice, against all who would deny you your rights
So we stand with you
So we honor you
As MiriamMiriam is the sister of Moses and Aaron. As Moses' and Aaron's sister she, according to midrash, prophesies Moses' role and helps secure it by watching over the young baby, seeing to it that Pharaoh's daughter takes him and that the baby is returned to his mother for nursing. During the Israelites' trek through the desert, a magical well given on her behalf travels with the Israelites, providing water, healing, and sustenance. when she danced at the sea
As David when he danced before the ark
So you have come to us in joy
In celebration
In song
And like all those whose names are unrecorded,
Concealed, burned, defaced or blotted out,
So you claim a hidden heritage
So we welcome you
So we honor you
4 . CLOSING BLESSINGS
These two blessings are in the traditional form of the Mi Sheiberakh.
The first is to be recited by the rabbi or community leader (or, alternatively, the parents of the celebrant).
The second is to be recited by the celebrant. The celebrant’s Hebrew and English names should both be used where appropriate.
We have welcomed ____________ as a reborn member of our community. We now conclude by taking one further step: recognizing him/her as a Jewish adult. We do this by bestowing blessings, and making statements of brit, covenant and commitment.
1. Rabbinic blessing
May God, who blessed our ancestors,
Jonathan, David, RuthAn important female biblical character with her own book. The Book of Ruth, read on Shavuot, tells the story of Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and their return to Israel. Ruth’s story is often read as the first story of conversion. Ruth is the grandmother of King David., and Naomi,
fair-voiced Jacob and strong-voiced Deborah,
bless _____________________,
who has come out before this congregation
in courage and in strength,
in loving kindness and in truth,
and has privileged us to share in this moment.
May _________ be blessed with wisdom and understanding,
love and strength,
spirit and steadfastness,
with a foundation of righteousness and a heart of compassion.
We commit this day to honor and protect, to love and respect,
and to fulfill the words of the prophet:
“These things shall you do: speak truth to one another, and judge truthfully and for peace in your gates.”
(Zechariah 8:16)2. To be recited by the celebrant.
Different names, including personal GLBT heroes, may be added (or substituted) and personal statements may be included.
May God, who blessed my ancestors,
Sappho, Whitman, Michelangelo, and Wilde,
James Baldwin, Leonard Bernstein, Willa Cather, Gertrude Stein,
bless me as I enter the tribe of two-spirit people,
God’s proud, long-hidden children,
the people of the rainbow.
We are called lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered.
We are gifted, we are artists, we are diverse, we are strong.
We are like and unlike, we are normal and queer.
We are prophets, called berdache, winkte, witch, kadesh..
And today I take my place among them.
As my ancestors have done for centuries,
I pledge this day to be a bar [or bat] mitzvah, a person of commitment.
I commit myself to honesty, to truthfulness, and to love.
I commit myself to learning about my newly-claimed heritage, and sharing it with others.
I commit myself to equality, dignity, respect, and compassion.
I commit myself to Godliness, to Spirit, to joining heaven and Earth.
[Celebrant may add personal commitments, thanks, or other statements.]
Please answer me as I conclude with the traditional Jewish blessing for sexual and gender diversity:
Baruch ata adonai, eloheinu melech ha’olam, she’asani kirtzono.
Blessed are You, God, who fills and rules the universe, and who made me according to Your will.
Congregation answers: Amen! MazalGood fortune, luck, and the Hebrew sign of the Zodiac. Tov!
