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

“No words can describe it. / The first time I held her on my chest…”
a new infant
Prayers for either discarding or donating frozen embryos one choose not to use
light brown hands cupping light pink petals
“We have been waiting for you”
closeup of newborn white baby held by adult white hands
“May God make you like our adopted ancestors”
brown-skinned man and woman sitting in a wheat field with sun shining, holding cute toddler between them
Ritual to acknowledge grief related to infertility or perinatal loss
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.
“Sarah waited, far too long. / So what’s a few more days, right?”
close up of light-skinned adult hand holding hand of small baby
“We know what to do: / Agitate, organize, shout”
A Short Prayer for Justice
Ritual to acknowledge loss of abortion access
After Roe: A Havdalah Ritual for Losing Abortion Access
“Let us use our voices and our votes to cry out as loud as we can”
From Out of the Narrow Place: Prayer for Pro-Choice Rally
“For all of our failures to protect you, our daughters, mothers, partners and friends”
Confessional to the Women We’ve Failed

The Reconstructionist Network

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.