Starting a Family

In contemporary homes, starting a family is often a deliberate choice. The experience of pregnancy, the drama of giving birth, and the miracle of adoption are occasions for joy and wonder. These are also experiences that can be fraught with pain and struggle, reflecting the full spectrum of life and death. We offer prayers for those who are trying to conceive, prayers for pregnancy and childbirth, rituals for parents preparing to adopt, mourning ceremonies for miscarriages, blessings for those struggling with infertility, rituals to prepare for or acknowledge an abortion, and much more. 

Latest Rituals

Prayers for Decision Making Regarding Unused Embryos

Prayers for either discarding or donating frozen embryos one choose not to use
  • by Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller
embryo, infertility
light brown hands cupping light pink petals

Until We Held You: Poem for a New Baby

“We have been waiting for you”
  • by Robert Bires
baby naming, childbirth, love
closeup of newborn white baby held by adult white hands

A Blessing for Adoption

“May God make you like our adopted ancestors”
  • by Rabbi Alex Braver
adoption, blessing
brown-skinned man and woman sitting in a wheat field with sun shining, holding cute toddler between them

The Key: A Ritual for Perinatal Loss

Ritual to acknowledge grief related to infertility or perinatal loss
  • by Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin and Rabbi Janet Madden
grief, infertility, loss of a child
close up of white woman wearing white t-shirt with a few colorful horizontal stripes. she's wearing a necklace with a key hanging on it, and she's holding the key with two fingers. she has rings on her pointer and middle fingers.

Prayer for a Mother of a Newborn in the NICU

“Sarah waited, far too long. / So what’s a few more days, right?”
  • by Adva Chattler
childbirth, pregnancy, premature
close up of light-skinned adult hand holding hand of small baby

A Short Prayer for Justice

“We know what to do: / Agitate, organize, shout”
  • by Trisha Arlin
abortion, justice, racial justice, social justice
A Short Prayer for Justice

After Roe: A Havdalah Ritual for Losing Abortion Access

Ritual to acknowledge loss of abortion access
  • by NCJW (National Council of Jewish Women)
abortion, America, feminism, gender, social justice
After Roe: A Havdalah Ritual for Losing Abortion Access

From Out of the Narrow Place: Prayer for Pro-Choice Rally

“Let us use our voices and our votes to cry out as loud as we can”
  • by Rabbi Deborah Waxman, PhD
abortion, feminism, justice, social justice
From Out of the Narrow Place: Prayer for Pro-Choice Rally

Confessional to the Women We’ve Failed

“For all of our failures to protect you, our daughters, mothers, partners and friends”
  • by Rabbi Zoe Klein Miles
abortion, al het, feminism, justice, social justice
Confessional to the Women We’ve Failed

Prayer for Our Power, Prayer for Our Choice

“Let today be the day we learn our power”
  • by Rabbi Stephanie Crawley
abortion, feminism, justice, social justice
Prayer for Our Power, Prayer for Our Choice

The Reconstructionist Network

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Read & Rite

One-stop shop for progressive Jewish books and ritual objects

Placement Office

Placement resources for rabbis and congregations

Havaya Summer Programs

Overnight summer camp and teen Israel experience

Reconstructionist Educators of North America

Professional group for people leading schools in Reconstructionist congregations

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Professional association of Reconstructionist rabbis

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Liturgy Writing for Prayer Leaders

This immersion is for prayer leaders who have some experience writing prayers and want to receive feedback and hone their skills as liturgists in a supportive environment.

Six sessions, starting May 24th

REGISTER NOW

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