A headline like "Roving Rabbis" in Wednesday's Press is bound to get attention, for the alliteration as much as relative rarity of a rabbi in North Idaho. If you missed it, two rabbinical interns arrived in Athol to connect with and instruct the Jewish community here and, I hope, the non-Jewish. As anthropologist Margaret Mead wrote, knowledge of other cultures allows us to better scrutinize, and lovingly appreciate, our own.

One of the seminars the rabbi students will offer is on the Jewish life cycle. It should seem familiar; the Jewish approach is Biblical in origin and at heart not too different from how other cultures and religions view the stages of human life.

Jewish traditions like so many old cultures hold rites of passage for each major stage of life: birth, bar/bat mitzvah, marriage, death, and finally, afterlife. Each rite combines scripture and spiritual guidance with celebration or commemoration, historically involving one's community as well as family. I remember feeling an array of emotions at one such event; I laughed and cried, moved from joy to inspiration and introspection.

The basic cycles are five:

* Birth. More than celebrating birth alone, this cycle includes a naming ceremony - an important element of identity. Adoption, circumcision (with very exact ritual), and "redemption" of the first born (first offering to God) are also part of this cycle. In Jewish law the soul is divine and pre-exists birth; babies are born free from sin (no original sin). Boys receive their Hebrew name at circumcision (brit milah, or bris); girls receive it when their fathers call it in a blessing called the aliyah in synagogue (temple) shortly after birth.

* Bar /Bat Mitzvah. This is not just a coming of age ceremony. The bar (son of) or bat (daughter of) mitzvah (commandment) tradition holds that at 13 a child becomes responsible to God for his or her choices. Children now become obligated to follow the 613 mitzvot (commandments), acknowledging it publicly and gaining corresponding religious and legal rights (but not yet as fully as an adult).

* Marriage. The Talmud believes in soul mates, with a boy child's soul hearing pre-birth the echoes of the daughter he will marry - a "bashert," destiny. With such a notion it may seem surprising that Jewish law allows divorce, but it does. While the match may be heavenly, humans are free to mess it up. Traditionally intercourse itself could create a wife, although in modern times more (a ring, agreement/contract, and ceremony) occurs. The contract - ketubah - is interesting in that it outlines a husband's promises to the wife, and is often written in beautiful calligraphy.

* Death (and life). Almost any Jewish law (except murder, incest, idolatry, and adultery) can be broken to save a life; this makes compassionate allowances possible in unusual situations. Death is not considered tragedy, but a meaningful and natural process. Respect for death is paramount; a corpse is never left alone until buried and autopsies are discouraged. Grief is allowed, but in lessening stages over time, to encourage the grieving to return to a joyful life.

* Afterlife. Jewish ideas about afterlife are less specific than other Abrahamic religions and can't be pigeon-holed. Little is written (although a reference to afterlife is clear) and thus somewhat left to individual interpretation. Some would say Jews don't believe in heaven, but some Jews will tell you they do, in a way. Perhaps souls wait in quasi-limbo for the resurrection. Others will say they believe in a form of reincarnation (if the soul pre-exists death and continues, why not); but certainly not shared by all Jews.

Well accepted as true is Olam Ha-Ba, the world to come. Olam Ha-Ba is a higher state of being; that's a laudable goal for which to strive while waiting here on Earth, whatever comes next.

"First learn, then form opinions. Don't look for more honor than your learning merits." - Jewish proverbs

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Sholehjo@hotmail.com