Rabbi Rayzel Raphael

In addition to performing the ceremony for my daughter’s recent Bat Mitzvah on 2.1.20, Rabbi Rayzel Raphael also performed my wedding ceremony 15 years ago, and my youngest daughter’s Baby Naming Ceremony in March of 2012. Suffice it to say, Rabbi Rayzel is my family’s Rabbi for life! Although we are very close now, after 15 years, we had just met in 2005 when my husband and I went looking for a Rabbi that specialized in interfaith marriages. Even then, Rabbi Rayzel took the time to really get to know us. We met on many occasions before the actual wedding day where the Rabbi guided us through deep and profound conversations that forced us to really contemplate, and ultimately strengthen our commitment. We became so close through the process, and formed a bond with Rabbi Rayzel. We did not hesitate to call on her 7 years later to perform the Baby Naming ceremony for our youngest daughter. It was like no time had passed, and our bond strengthened even more.
So here we are, another 7 years later, and we call upon our Rabbi to coach us through our oldest daughter’s upcoming Bat Mitzvah. At first, she wasn’t sure if she would be available for our date. We were devastated. She recommended a Cantor with whom she had worked with before on Bnai Mitzvahs, and told us that if it came to be that she was not available, the Cantor, who would be giving our daughter her lessons, could perform the Bat Mitzvah on her own with no problem. We agreed, and trusted our Rabbi’s recommendation. We started the lessons with the Cantor and everything was moving along smoothly. Rabbi Rayzel had us covered. Then came the call; “I’m coming home for this. I’m coming home for you. Of course I’m coming home. You’re my family. We’ve been together since the beginning. I would not miss this.” I mean, who does this? She had an ill close family member, and work obligations out of state, and she was flying back to Philadelphia for our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah! Before she left town, our Rabbi met with us as a family multiple times to get to know my daughter (and little sister!) and hear from my daughter about what she envisioned for the ceremony, her bat mitzvah project, and her speech. The Rabbi stayed in constant contact with us while she was away, and even let us have her Torah in the house while she was gone as a reminder of what was to come! Face-times, phone calls, in-person lessons, hours and hours of work put in by all for months and months. As we get closer, our Rabbi and our Cantor worked tirelessly on the prayer booklet for the ceremony, which included prayers, songs, rituals, readings, and of course, my daughter reading from the Torah. It was the most beautiful service. My daughter did an amazing job, leading the Havdalah service almost entirely in Hebrew.
What a beautiful late afternoon and night!!
Throughout this process, our Rabbi was a calming, supportive, loving presence for everyone involved. For me, the mother of the Bat Mitzvah girl, my Rabbi was a counselor, a solution seeker, an adviser, a friend, a guide, and a loving sister in arms. I can’t say enough, other than.....can’t wait for the next one in 4 years! But I’m sure it won’t be that long before we talk again, because my family, especially me, loves our Rabbi, and we are so grateful for her loving presence in our lives.