Life Cycle Officiant

I find deep joy in creating personalized ceremonies and rituals that are rooted in tradition and infused with your unique story. Together, we’ll build ceremonies that are authentic, meaningful, and speak to your family, your values, and our shared heritage. 

Work with me to prepare for every Jewish life cycle event, including baby namings, Bnei Mitzvah, and weddings.

Baby Namings

I offer bespoke spiritual frameworks for welcoming your child into the Jewish covenant, your family, and your community. 

  • Includes 1-3 meetings depending on your preferences and timing.  
  • I can work in partnership with your mohel/et or help connect you with a professional that aligns with your family’s needs. 

Bnei Mitzvah

I work with Bnei Mitzvah students to engage with Jewish tradition and spirituality through a relational approach unique to each child.

  • Design and facilitate a personalized ceremony including the extended family and community in blessings, speeches, and more. 
  • Provide spiritual guidance for parents or guardians as they welcome their child into adulthood. 
  • Connect family with trainers for Torah and Haftorah reading (melodies) as needed. 

Weddings

Weddings are a fundamental step to creating a Jewish home. Through couples counseling and working together to design a creative ceremony based in Jewish tradition, I support the couple as they embark on their new life together. 

  • Includes six essential couples counseling sessions from ceremony design to shared responsibility and decision making over the course of the marriage. 
  • We will work together to intentionally craft your new family narrative, for you, your partner, and your extended families. 

I welcome partners of all religions for my couples counseling sessions. I can officiate weddings between two Jewish partners or connect you with a wedding officiant as needed. 

Conversions

In contemporary life, everyone is Jewish by choice. I welcome anyone who is exploring deepening their understanding of Judaism, whether as part of the decision to convert or to reconnect with Jewish tradition. Our work together will be spiritually grounded in tradition, text, and participation in daily Jewish life. 

  • Guidance to find an introduction to Judaism class locally or online depending on your needs. 
  • Mentorship and guidance through one year of participation in Jewish life (practical and supplemental elements of the intro to Judaism course). 
  • Designing and facilitating experience day of conversion including organizing a Beit Din and Mikvah visit. 
  • Spiritual and theological coaching. 

Funerals

While some of the most difficult lifecycle events, funerals provide mourners with a sacred space to memorialize their loved ones while honoring the wishes of the deceased and Jewish tradition. 

  • Includes one meeting with the family for planning and eulogy. 
  • Designing a bespoke, halakhic ceremony, incorporating the wishes of the deceased and the living family.
  • Leading a same-day shivah service.

I first met Rabbi Sara in 2013 at the American Jewish University while I was on my conversion journey. She taught the Judaism 101 class and immediately stood out as a remarkable teacher—one who makes Jewish tradition, prayer, and literature deeply accessible and meaningful. I chose her to be my sponsoring Rabbi, and it remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. From that moment on, she became not just a guide, but truly our lifelong family Rabbi. Her presence has shaped some of the most sacred moments of our lives and we are forever grateful for her wisdom, warmth, and unwavering support.”

—Ally Averbukh