December 15, 2015 – 3 Tevet 5776
Rabbi I:
הַיָּשָׁן יִתְחַדֵּשׁ וְהֶחָדָשׁ יִתְקַדֵּשׁ
Transliteration: Hayashan yitkhadesh v’heykhadash yitkadesh.
The old will be made new, and the new will be made holy.
(Rav 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. IsaacAbraham and Sarah's much-longed-for son and the second Jewish patriarch. Isaac is nearly sacrificed by his father at God's command (Genesis 22). He is married to Rebecca and is the father of Esau and Jacob. His Hebrew name is Yitzchak. Kook)
In the creation story, Bereshit 1:27 states that when God created humanity,
זָכַר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אוֹתָם
Transliteration: Zakhar u’n’keyvah bara otam.
Male AND female, God created them
Rabbi II:
MidrashA rabbinic method of interpreting text, often through the telling of stories. Bereshit Rabbah notes (5:1) that this meant that AdamAdam is the first human being created by God. Symbolizes: Creation, humankind. haRishon was in fact Androgynous. The modern term for this is Intersex. The traditional understanding of this verse is that God created humanity in a binary state, male OR female. By understanding that we are created male AND female, we recognize that God gave every human characteristics of all gender, and that our gender identity is somewhere on a spectrum, not a binary state.
Rabbi III:
Each morning, and every time we use the bathroom, we praise God’s wisdom in creation of humanity with the following adapted blessing:
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ רוּחַ חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים אֲשֶׁר יָצְרָה אֶת אָדָם בְּחָכְמָה
Transliteration: B’rukha at YahA name for God, as in "halleluyah" – praise God. Some people prefer this name for God as a non-gendered option., ruakhLit. Spirit. Some new versions of blessings call God "Spirit of the World" (Ruakh Ha’olam), rather than "King of the World" (Melekh Ha'olam). khey haolamim asher yatzrah et adam b’khokhmah.
Blessed are You, Yah, Eternal Source of life, who created humanity in wisdom
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Rona:
The change of name ceremony in Judaism is traditionally done for a gravely ill person, in order to divert the Angel of Death, and bring, God willing, a verdict of life. When a transgender person transitions, they are leaving their past life behind to a certain extent. The Tzitz Eliezer, Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg, z”l, wrote regarding gender transition, that a man who transitions to a woman need not give his wife a GetA writ of divorce. Traditionally, only a man can grant his wife a get. Liberal Jews have amended this tradition, making divorce more egalitarian., the Jewish divorce document, because a dead person does not and cannot give his wife a Get.
Professor Joy Ladin, of YeshivaSchool of traditional Jewish study. Although historically only for men, today there are some yeshivot (plural) that are for women, and there are progressive yeshivot which are coed. University, a transwoman and scholar, prepared an extensive liturgy for transition, which includes the rituals of death. I personally do not see myself as a מת, a dead person. So I would rather focus on life today than death.
God changed Sarai’s name to 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., in an affirmation of life and strength. Thus, following in the footsteps of Sarah Imeinu, I present myself to this Beit DinRabbinic court consisting of three rabbis or learned members of the Jewish community., to change my name to celebrate my life, and to affirm my identity as a transwoman.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֵלֹ – הֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂנִי כִּרְצוֹנוֹ
Transliteration: Barukh atah HashemLit. The Name, referring to the ineffable name of God; used as a substitute for any of the more sacred names of God when not speaking in prayer. Particularly used in conversation. Eloheynu melekh haolam sheasani kirtzono.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who made me according to God’s will.
It was God’s will that I be created male AND female, and that I am transgender. We celebrate God’s will and wisdom in creating me, and all transgender people.
Rabbi I:
בְּרוּכָה הַבָּאָה
Transliteration: B’rukhah ha’ba’ah.
We welcome you to your new life, as we affirm your new identity.
You have been called to be true to your inner self —
you have taken the brave step to renew yourself
so that you can be wholly who you are.
You have chosen to recognize this transformation,
to distinguish this transformation as a holy moment,
in the midst of your Jewish community.
In TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general., the Jewish people are “The ivrim, the Hebrews,”
the crossing-over people.
As we crossed over the Red Sea to escape slavery,
to escape the narrow places of MitzrayimLit. Egypt. Because the Hebrew word for narrow is tzar, Mitzrayim is also understood as "narrowness," as in, the narrow and confining places in life from which one emerges physically and spiritually., of Egypt,
we transformed ourselves —
a painful yet redemptive spiritual transition.
Rona:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֵלֹ-הֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם מְחַיֶּה הָעוֹבְרִים
Transliteration: Barukh atah Hashem eloheynu melekh haolam m’khayey haovrim.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of time and space, who gives new life to those who transform.
Rabbi I:
To celebrate living, let’s sing together, from the HallelLit. “Praise” The Hallel prayers are additional prayers taken from Psalms 113-118 and are traditionally recited on the Jewish holidays of Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Chodesh, and Hanukah., Psalm 115
ה’ זְכָרָֽנוּ יְבָרֵךְ, יְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּית אַהֲרֹן. יְבָרֵךְ יִרְאֵי ה’, הַקְּטַנִּים עִם הַגְּדֹלִים. יֹסֵף ה’ עֲלֵיכֶם, עֲלֵיכֶם וְעַל בְּנֵיכֶם. בְּרוּכִים אַתֶּם לַה, עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַֽיִם וָאָֽרֶץ. הַשָּׁמַֽיִם שָׁמַֽיִם להָ, וְהָאָֽרֶץ נָתַן לִבְנֵי אָדָם. לֹא הַמֵּתִים יְהַלְלוּ יָהּ, וְלֹא כָּל יֹרְדֵי דוּמָה. וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ, מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, הַלְלוּיָהּ.
Transliteration: Hashem z’kharanu y’varekh, y’varekh et beyt Yisrael, y’varekh et beyt AharonBrother of Moses, chosen as Moses' interlocutor. His Hebrew name is Aharon.. Y’varekh yirey Hashem, haktanim im hag’dolim. Yosef Hashem aleykhem, aleykhem v’al b’neykhem. B’rukhim atem la, osheyh shamayim va’aretz. Hashamayim lah, v’ha’aretz natan livney adam. Lo hameytim y’hal’luyah, v’lo kol yirdey dumah. V’anakhnu n’varekh Yah, meyatah v’ad olam haleylulah
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Rabbi I:
Having acknowledged the holiness of this moment of transformation, we turn to the giving of your name.
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ
אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה
קַיָּם אֶת הָאִשָּׁה הַזֹּאת וְיִקָּרֵא אֶת שֶׁמַּה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה
קַיָּם אֶת הָאִשָּׁה הַזֹּאת וְיִקָּרֵא אֶת שֶׁמַּה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Mi Sheberakh avoteynu v’imoteynu
Avraham, Yitzkhak, v’Yaakov Sara, Rivkah, Rakhel, v’LeahThe third of the Jewish matriarchs, Lead is the eldest of Lavan's daughters and one of the wives of Jacob. She is the daughter whom Lavan tricks Jacob into marrying instead of his younger daughter Rachel, whom Jacob has requested to marry. Leah is mother to six of the the twelve tribes and to one daughter, Dinah.
kayam et haisha hazot v’yikarey et sheyma b’Yisrael.
Avraham, Yitzkhak, v’Yaakov Sara, Rivkah, Rakhel, v’LeahThe third of the Jewish matriarchs, Lead is the eldest of Lavan's daughters and one of the wives of Jacob. She is the daughter whom Lavan tricks Jacob into marrying instead of his younger daughter Rachel, whom Jacob has requested to marry. Leah is mother to six of the the twelve tribes and to one daughter, Dinah.
kayam et haisha hazot v’yikarey et sheyma b’Yisrael.
May God who blessed our ancestors who came before us,
sustain this woman as we give her the Hebrew name she has chosen:
ירונה סמדר בת עשבלה ושמואל אריה
Yarona Smadar bat Ishabela U’Shmuel Aryeh
Rabbi II:
May this name be a source of joy to you, and inspire you to serve our people and all of humankind.
May all people rejoice in you and the life you create.
May you be blessed with a life filled with:
Torah, study;
HuppahMarriage canopy symbolizing the couple's new home., love worthy of God’s blessing; and
Ma’asim Tovim, a life filled with good deeds.
Together we say: Amen.
Rabbi III:
In Sefer Bereshit, Parashat Vayishlakh, 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. wrestles with an Angel of God, after which he is told of his name change:
בר’:לב:כט: וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ כִּי אִם-יִשְֹרָאֵל
כִּי-שָֹרִיתָ עִם-אֱלֹ-הִים וְעִם-אֲנָשִׁים וַתּוּכָל.
Transliteration: V’yomer lo Ya’akov yeyameyr od shimkha ki im Yisrael ki sarita im Elohim v’im anashim vatukhal
He said, your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but rather Yisrael, because you have wrestled with God and men, and overcome.
Rona:
Just as Jacob wrestled with God and survived, so to have I wrestled with God and humans in proceeding through my life to this point of transition. I am grateful to everyone for their support of my transition, most specifically my wife Susan, without whom I would not be here.
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Beit Din:
יְבָרֶכְךְ ה’ וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ.
יָאֵר ה’ פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ וִיחֻנֶּֽךָּ.
יִשָּׂא ה’ פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם.
Transliteration: Y’vareykhekh Hashem, vayishmareykha, yaeyr Hashem panav eleykha vikhuneykha, yisa Hashem panav eleykha v’yseym shalom.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God’s light shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you.
May you feel God’s Presence within you always, and may you find peace.
Let’s conclude this ritual with the Shehekhianu blessing:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה.
Transliteration: Barukh atah Adonay eloheynu melekh haolam, she’he’kheyanu v’kimanu v’higianu lazman hazeh
Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of all, for giving us life, sustaining us, and enabling us to reach this season
(Ceremony ends with the singing of Siman Tov u’MazelGood fortune, luck, and the Hebrew sign of the Zodiac. Tov.)
Find the accompanying blog post by Rabbah Rona Matlow, here.https://www.ritualwell.org/blog/my-name-change-ritual
