High Holidays

SEPTEMBER 2023 ISSUE VIEW THIS EMAIL IN YOUR BROWSER

Shanah Tova

We wish you all the very best for a good year as Rosh Hashanah dawns— and hope to see you next Sunday as we discuss the High Holidays and celebrate with a light dinner and service.
RD and Alex

LICENSING AND CEREMONIES
A lawyer friend connected with one of the ceremonies this summer suggested that we remind everyone how important it is to make sure your wedding is legal and the officiant is registered.

The Rabbi is a licensed officiant. We sign your marriage license during the ceremony and forward it to the Registrar to ensure your marriage is legally registered. (Couples may provide their marriage license to us in advance so you have less to think about on the day—in Ontario, you apply for your license up to 90 days before the date of your ceremony at your local municipal offices).

If you would like an official Marriage Certificate from Ontario, it is necessary to apply for this yourself from the Registrar—you must wait at least 90 days after your ceremony to meet provincial requirements.
(Above—Rebbetzin Alex with a llama at a wedding in Ottawa!)

FAQs ON WEDDINGS

This excerpt is from our FAQs page—answers to questions couples often ask:

The Rabbi is licensed to perform weddings anywhere in Ontario, and he is also able to officiate at weddings in the US.

The Rabbi has officiated at ceremonies in California, Mexico, Savannah (Georgia), and Manhattan. He performs destination weddings for both Jewish and interfaith couples and has also done destination vow renewal ceremonies.

For other destination locations, please check with us when reserving your dates.

What about weddings onboard ships/at resorts abroad?
The Rabbi has officiated at religious ceremonies on cruises and destination weddings at resorts in Canada and elsewhere. Arrangements vary depending on the shipping company, and special plans need to be made with the venue or resort, but we will be pleased to discuss this with you. Please contact Alex with any questions.

THE QUESTION MOST ASKED BY COUPLES?
HOW DO YOU CHANGE YOUR NAME AFTER THE WEDDING?

In Ontario, you may assume your spouse’s last name on marriage. You may need to show your marriage certificate (which you apply for after the wedding from Vital Statistics) to the relevant government departments or companies to change your name on certain documents (bank accounts, Revenue Canada, credit cards, driver’s license, social insurance number, etc.).

You may also apply for a legal name change, but this process is different.

This photo is from a ceremony at the lovely Hart House at the U of T in Toronto to marry Former Marlies Captain Rich Clune and Isabel Ungar.

Everybody's invited to join us on the 24th for our unique approach to the High Holidays—please contact Alex!
See below for an excerpt from my weekly commentary for The Torah Group—

GETTING READY TO CLOSE THE BOOK—

From the Commentary this week:

We are on the cusp of the period of great introspection when we work to improve ourselves, to get back on track if we veered from our chosen course in which are to answer – have we been good, kind, helpful? Do I need to forgive anyone? Do I need to seek forgiveness?

Many of us will think we’re good and we don’t need to seek forgiveness. All need to seek forgiveness. Such is the nature of man. Open your heart and accept your vulnerability. Strength comes from vulnerability. Remember, you are all part of the great heart – and that is the symbol for love, for forgiveness, for compassion...

I hope you all have a wonderful Rosh Hashanah observance – whether alone or in a group. It is your personal opportunity to awaken your soul, look within, and correct any deviation you notice. It is about the self, not about the list of things someone else gave you to fix.

We are about to enter the yamim nora’im – the ten days of awe during which time we are inscribed in the book of life; we stand in the celestial court – examining self and being examined, preparing to be sealed in the book for a good year. Wouldn’t it be great if we did what we say we are going to do – seek forgiveness, grant forgiveness, be a better person?

Make little changes, and in a while, you will see the path you are on is not the same. You will put yourself back on the path of life you were meant to live. We didn’t deviate on purpose. It happens, and we can see it and correct it – if we want to. And I know you all want to.

It is also not too late to have your name entered in the book of life, so please keep sending in names. We will be lighting candles for the souls and spirits of all who have been lost as we get ready for the public memorial held on Yom Kippur, when we honor the martyrs of life and the memories and souls of our own dear loved ones.

(Send in the names to us at info@uoufc.org)

HELLO FALL

This month also marks the Fall or Autumn Equinox on September 23rd—

Contact Alex to attend on Sunday, the 24th as we mark these special days.

PLANNING AND SCHEDULING

Please get in touch for scheduling information in the GTA, elsewhere in Ontario, and beyond, including the U.S.A., to reserve any dates you may have in mind.

Everyone from wedding planners to videographers to venues are still being booked well ahead of time. More details on the blog.

We've been honored to be invited to welcome and celebrate new lives into the world. Congratulations to the couples welcoming new additions, and thank you for letting us be a part of that storied tradition of welcoming new members to the tribe.

KEEP ON TRACK WITH GOALS—
And because it's September, and may be time for a refresh... Alex's stay-on-track appointments and free phone check-ins on occasional Sundays are a great way to help keep up with goals.

To join regular online sessions, set up a personal appointment in Toronto, or if you're an existing client and would like to book a free phone check-in, please get in touch. 416 456 4357

Contact Alex by email

Forward

Weekly videos are posted on the video channel—subscribers are welcome!

Einstein and Esther have spent the summer living it up (too!). Here is Princess Esther showing off her new bed!

Please share or forward to anyone who might have questions about Jew...ish weddings. Email Alex or call 416 457 4357 to schedule or more info.

If you have questions on anything at all from scheduling to Jewish/Interfaith traditions—or any thing we can help you with, please contact us at any time—and Alex can always be reached at Alex@rabbidavidgellman.com or 416 456 4357

www.rabbidavidgellman.com

www.rabbidavidgellman.com

Copyright © 2023 All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
335-4025 Dorchester Road,
Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2E 7K8
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.