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The greatest gift … Ben’s Bar Mitzvah in South Florida

November 12, 2014 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

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When it comes to families who enroll in my Jewish community program, I’m pretty blessed. It seems that as with the Law of Attraction, what we put out into the universe, we also attract. Throughout my 10 year cantor career journey, I’ve encountered Jewish families who I simply adore – who approach the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah process because they want it to mean something. Our values align, a friendship forms, and the relationship blossoms and grows into a beautiful flower.

This weekend, I harvested the beautiful blooms of a five year friendship. A relationship that started with one child in Hebrew School, and grew into two Bar Mitzvahs, a funeral, a wedding and a baby naming, aside from many holiday and celebration meals. Mara, the Mom, is a magnificent person – inside and out. She exudes grace and kindness. She is fierce about doing the best she can for her husband and family, and everything she does is with love – and is driven by a passion for quality. And that’s the way I approach my business. I try to go above and beyond for my Jewish families, knowing that when you put a good, quality product out there, people want to buy it- and share it. And wow, did Mara share!

Today, I can honestly say that a large number of the Jewish families in my Jewish community program can be traced back to a connection to Mara. Ronnie, her husband, is the quintessential businessman, whose values and ethics I not only respect, but try to model in everything I do. And so after 5 years of growing and celebrating together, this past weekend was the second (and last) Bar Mitzvah I will perform for this side of the Selinger family.

The weekend was so beautiful. Beginning with a Friday night Shabbat dinner in their home, Mara and Ronnie make sure I am there next to them to lead the candle blessing, Hamotzi and Kiddush. Along with their very best friends and family, they also make sure that I blocked the entire weekend to celebrate with them – all the way through Sunday brunch. No, I don’t get to do this very often, but when you establish a relationship like I have with this family -it really makes you want to celebrate those moments with such special people.

A very special Shabbat dinner with a very special family before Ben's Bar Mitzvah in South Florida — A very special Shabbat dinner before Ben’s Bar Mitzvah in South Florida.

I’m filled with love and sweet memories of a time I will always cherish. I thank Mara and Ronnie for all of their love and support, and look forward, cheerfully, to the days Ben and Coby walk down an aisle – so I can be there again in celebration! Love you, Selinger family!

Want to create your own Bar Mitzvah “dream come true”? Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

The Lord’s Prayer and my favorite Catholic Priest – Jewish-Catholic Wedding

September 2, 2013 by Debbi Ballard 2 Comments

Meet the “Jewish-Catholic Wedding Officiant Dream Team!”

Last night, I drove 13 hours round trip up and back in the same day, just to co-officiate the wedding of Alex and Blake, an adorable couple from Gainesville, FL, in St. Augustine. Now normally, I would never accept a wedding two days before Rosh Hashanah, most especially out of town – and most definitely not with an up and back in one day! But this wedding ceremony was different. See, I would go to the ends of the earth to share an altar with Father Tim Lozier, my most incredibly favorite Catholic Priest in this world. Father Tim and I co-officiated our first Jewish-Catholic wedding a few years ago for Dan and Bethann, and then for Michelle and Brian last year. Last night was the third time, for Alex and Blake.

My favorite Catholic Priest, Father Tim, at Alex and Blake's Jewish-Catholic wedding — Father Tim and I – the Dream Team of Jewish Catholic Wedding Officiants!

Father Tim and Cantor Debbi Ballard — Father Tim and I – The DREAM TEAM of Jewish Catholic Wedding Officiants – I just love performing Interfaith weddings with him!

It’s been hard to put into words what makes Father Tim my favorite.

First, his incredible willingness and ease in sharing the wedding officiant roles and equally including both of us in the most special, wonderful ways in the wedding ceremony makes him so easy to work with. His wonderful, loving, caring soul makes him so easy to love and get along with. And I really get a kick that he grabs my arm and leads me right up to the bar to get us a cocktail to celebrate! What a guy! But last night, I understood what makes Father Tim really so special. In any other co-officiated wedding, I would be deeply concerned over the inclusion of the “J-word” in a wedding ceremony, but with Father Tim, he makes special points to mention “Rabbi Jesus”, and he takes all of the discomfort out of the obvious elephant in the room. And as I stand there next to him, reciting The Lord’s Prayer word for word along with him, I can feel the palpable energy of unity flowing through the room. It is the ultimate point in what I do that makes me so happy to work with Father Tim.

“What unites us, not what divides us”

Focusing on what unites us – the values of love and caring, we can dissolve the concepts of what divides us. In that space, in his white robes and in my tallit, with the words of Jesus on his lips and the Sheva Brachot on mine, we are one. We are brother and sister in G0d’s eyes, and we share the same source. In this moment and time, there are no differences. The Lord’s Prayer is as much mine as it is his, and the power of that thought has been what has transformed the three wedding ceremonies we have performed together, and will continue to do so every time in the future. I adore Father Tim, and I adore my couples who I marry. I adore my family, my loved ones, and human kind. And oh, I adore the thought of all of us living and sharing this planet, loving and caring for each other, as brothers and sisters in God’s eyes. I have a dream…

Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”? Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

The Power Team of Jewish Catholic Wedding Officiants!

March 14, 2013 by Debbi Ballard 2 Comments

I’ve been so fortunate to have 2 opportunities to work with Father Tim, and since I just received a copy of this photo from our couple, Michelle and Brian, I’m posting it right away! Again I am reminded why Father Tim and I are the Power Team of Jewish Catholic Wedding Officiants!

The Power Team of Jewish Catholic Wedding Officiants — Cantor Debbi Ballard and Father Tim Lozier, the power team of Jewish Catholic Wedding officiants, after Michelle and Brian’s Jewish Catholic wedding in St. Augustine, FL

I’m sure there are so many couples out there who are trying to find a workable way to incorporate their Jewish and Catholic faiths into a single ceremony, and we do it so well! Both of our brides, Beth Ann and Michelle had always dreamed of getting married in a beautiful Catholic church, but when they both fell in love with Jewish men, they feared that might not be able to happen.

Fortunately, they both found Father Tim! I adore Father Tim – he’s super cool, open minded, and makes everything “kosher” with the Catholic Church, and my Jewish family members feel warm and wonderful knowing that we included the most important, cherished traditions of our faith in their wedding.

On top of having a great ceremony, Father Tim and I get along so well, and we have so much FUN together! So have no fear, if you are looking for the power team of Jewish Catholic officiants – you have found us!

Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”? Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

Danielle and Garrett’s Jewish Interfaith Wedding Ceremony – Why I do what I do

November 4, 2010 by Debbi Ballard 4 Comments

Danielle and Garrett’s Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony is the perfect reason why I do what I do.

Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremonies are absolutely what I do best, but being a positive resource to my couples is just as important.

Many colleagues ask me why I invest so much time in my individual Interfaith couples. They insist that I can be just as popular, and just as busy, but I don’t need to make my couples a part of my life.

WRONG!!!!

Without a couple like Danielle and Garrett, and without falling in love with some (many) of my couples, my practice would feel empty. Instead, Danielle and Garrett were just like my own family from the minute we met, and I wouldn’t change a thing. They both came to me a year ago, looking for a Cantor and unaffiliated wedding officiant for their Jewish Interfaith wedding and wanting to meet to explore the possibility of my co-officiating a wedding ceremony for them, as D was Jewish, and G was not. They were both raised traditionally, but wanted an equal yet meaningful blend of who they both were as individuals, yet reflecting their harmonious union together. We sat at Starbucks for almost 2 hours (yes, a little longer than the typical initial meeting) and when we left, there was so much love in the air. Danielle called me later to let me know that Garrett specifically wanted ME to do the wedding ceremony, absent of a co-officiant. Rarely is it the groom who displays such emotional preference, but Garrett had a way of opening up to me in that meeting, that preserved a very special place in my heart for him – forever. Through the year, Danielle and I became fast facebook friends, engaging in early morning and late night chat, and sometimes, some personal opportunities to vent, and for me to be a sounding board for her, and even some of her family members. After all, this was a Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony, and each of them had family members with strong preferences and religiously traditional ideas, and at times, Danielle and Garrett had to make some unpopular decisions about their wedding, that didn’t please all of the important people in their lives. Together, we worked through it all. Danielle came to my home for coffee one day, to work on choosing a Ketubah, which she purchased from MPArtworks. It was beautiful. She made me such an important part of every decision, and with every twist, turn, and contest that Danielle entered (AND WON!), we built a relationship that would last forever.

Now, working with Danielle, it’s impossible not to get her – without the rest of the family, and of course – her very special Dad, Jules. Once D and I became facebook friends, I was instantly friends with her Mom, her Dad, and about 100 cousins. (ok – I’m exaggerating) Her dad, Jules, one of the most incredibly fun and sweet Dads I have ever met, included me in some facebook banter, and the rest was history. The year continued, with anticipation of meeting – and celebrating with everyone, and FINALLY – the wedding night arrived – 10/10/10.

A special date, a special Interfaith couple, and a special family – I knew this was going to be a Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony to remember. Danielle could not have planned it better. She and Garrett were married at the Boca Marriott, a venue I could not recommend more highly. They were phenomenal, very accommodating, and everything was perfect. They were married at the fountain outside, and they had a platform built on top of the front third of the fountain, so we were elevated, yet the fountains ran behind us.

I can’t even tell you how beautiful their chuppah was, courtesy of Dalsimer Florists. Yes, these people are the best in the trade, and when you want over the top beautiful flowers – that’s where you go.

They had a harpist for wedding music, who I have played with before, and she is lovely. We incorporated so many beautiful Jewish traditions, the ketubah, chuppah, sand ceremony and more. We incorporated the 7 Blessings (Sheva Brachot) with a modern day interpretation on the English. Instead of circling, I wrapped my tallit around their shoulders, to create a protective circle around them. It was beautiful.

Tallit and 7 Blessings, Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony — Tallit and 7 Blessings

Sand Ceremony, Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony — Sand Ceremony

They performed the biblical ring exchange, on to the right finger, moving each ring over to their own left ring finger, which I think adds so much dimension to the Jewish-Interfaith wedding ceremony. Overall, it was meaningful, uplifting, and just a tiny bit humorous, as Garrett kept throwing some humorous anecdotes in as I was talking and the 3 of us were giggling like crazy!

Biblical Ring Exchange, Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony — Biblical Ring Exchange

On to the party!

Their DJ – Shamar Reyes, was amazing, he kept that party going, had everyone out on the dance floor (yes, me included), and played such fun music – you couldn’t help but want to dance! (And that, we did!) Everything was so perfect, and we really had so much fun!Funny note: D wanted a photo booth SO bad. Dad, Jules, wanted nothing to do with it. D entered ANOTHER contest – and yes – SHE WON. Dad, Jules, still wanted nothing to do with it. IT WAS AWESOME! (Ask Dad Jules about the photo booth – he ended up loving it!) Just ask Lindsay with www.photoboothsocial.com how much fun he had at the party! 🙂 Danielle’s friend, Jonathan Nimerfroh was hired to do photos, and he did an amazing job. (I could not be writing this blog entry without his generous supply of beautiful photos!) We got a sneak peek just a few days after the wedding, and couldn’t wait to see the rest. D’s dress was designed by David Tutera, also a personal friend, and she looked like a princess. Danielle had her rehearsal dinner at Maggiano’s, in Boca, and after the Jewish-Interfaith wedding ceremony, we all made our way over to Rocco’s Tacos, ANOTHER personal friend of the family, who opened the bar for the after party, and for those of you who know what you do at Rocco’s – the tequila was flowing to say the least! (This family has GREAT friends!)

Rocco on the Bar with Tequila, after the Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony — Rocco on the Bar with Tequila

Garrett's mom, contemplating Tequila after the Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony — Garrett’s mom, contemplating Tequila

Yes, I attended all of the wedding events of the weekend. A little unusual, as time rarely permits, but again, this was special. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to describe my relationship with Danielle and Garrett, but I just know it is one that will last forever. They bring a very special brightness to my life, and they made me want to own the responsibility of giving them more than they could have hoped for, for their Jewish-Interfaith wedding ceremony. Without couples like this, I might be happy with just being good at what I do. Danielle and Garrett made me want to go beyond that. That’s why I do what I do. D & G – I love you both! I couldn’t have been happier to be such an important part of your special day! I know we will be part of each other’s lives for a very long time FOREVER!

Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”? Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

PS: And don’t forget to stop by our sample ceremonies page to see what your Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony might look like!

Jewish Christian Wedding in Fort Lauderdale, FL: Jewish-Interfaith Destination Weddings – A beautiful blend of both…

April 25, 2010 by Debbi Ballard 3 Comments

Planning their Jewish Christian Wedding

Kathy emailed me a year ago, as she and her fiancee, Drew, and their Moms were coming to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and were looking for someone to co-officiate their Jewish Christian wedding in a church in Fort Lauderdale. As of yet, they didn’t have a venue, but both Kathy and Drew, an Interfaith couple, each had very different “must-have’s” in their Jewish Interfaith wedding, and finding the perfect location, and people to make it happen seemed like a monumental task.

For Kathy – and her Mom, a Church wedding was their #1 must have. For Drew, and his Mom, the rich, beautiful Jewish traditions that kept them connected to their Jewish heritage were theirs. We needed a church, a chuppah, a unity candle, a kiddush cup, a ketubah, and many more aspects of each of our Jewish and Christian faiths to incorporate into their Interfaith wedding ceremony.

The Solution for this Jewish Christian Wedding? The Church by the Sea in Fort Lauderdale!

So many of Kathy’s plans kept falling through, between scheduling of the Air and Sea Show, and Churches and Pastors not being available, that Kathy and Drew even contemplated making the whole thing a destination wedding! But – Kathy persevered, because she really wanted the wedding of her dreams – and I think they got just that!

The first time I met Kathy and Drew, and their Moms, Merideth and Susan, we had a love fest, a session filled with “absolutely’s” and “of course’s”! In the next meeting, at the church, with Kathy and Drew, Susan, Dr. DeBie, and myself, things got a tiny bit tense, as we worked diligently to find just the right mix and blend of each of our “must haves”. Several months later, we drew up the final wedding ceremony program, and it seemed, we had ourselves the perfect Interfaith wedding.

Last night, Kathy and Drew were married at the Church By the Sea, with Dr. Linden DeBie, and myself co-officiating. First, to walk into that church, and see the beautiful chuppah standing there waiting for us, was so profound. It meant so much to me, to know that we worked so hard to create a service that was full of faith, and that even though we both thought very differently about our faiths, we were able to put our differences aside, for the beauty of what unites us.

Jewish Interfaith Wedding Chuppah in the church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Jewish Interfaith Wedding Chuppah in the Church

As the processional began, Susan and Merideth arrived at the altar, lit the side candles of the Unity Candle, and were seated. As Kathy arrived at the altar with her Dad, I welcomed everyone, and Dr. DeBie offered the Declaration of Intent, and asked the Giving of the Bride. Kathy and Drew then stepped together under the chuppah, and Dr. DeBie performed their vows, and then I performed the traditional Jewish ring exchange. Kathy and Drew lit their center Unity Candle, as their guitarist played “Here Comes the Sun”. (beautiful)

Jewish Interfaith Wedding Coofficiants in Fort Lauderdale at Church By The Sea — Cantor Debbi and Dr. DiBie Co-officiants for Jewish Interfaith Wedding

The rest of the Interfaith wedding ceremony was – believe it or not – predominantly Jewish-style. We signed their ketubah, shared the wine from their 6th generation kiddush cup from Drew’s family, and I sang the Birkat Kohanim (Julie Silver’s version).

Afterwards, Dr. DeBie pronounced Kathy and Drew husband and wife, and I concluded the Interfaith wedding ceremony with the breaking of the glass.

Jewish Interfaith Wedding Glass Breaking in Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Glass breaking Jewish Interfaith Wedding in Church

Looking back, and hearing everyone’s comments, I know fully why I do what I do. I may not be able to change the world, or the face of faith, but I can certainly change some family’s lives, by giving them hope to see that love transcends individual beliefs. That together, when we can sit a table and focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us, that all things are possible.

Today, I look back on Kathy and Drew’s Interfaith wedding last night, with love, fond memories, and even stronger hope for the future, of a world that looks peaceful, and stands in unity.

Amen.

PS: Want to create your own “dream come true wedding”? Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

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The greatest gift … Ben’s Bar Mitzvah in South Florida

The Lord’s Prayer and my favorite Catholic Priest – Jewish-Catholic Wedding

Meet the “Jewish-Catholic Wedding Officiant Dream Team!”

“What unites us, not what divides us”

The Power Team of Jewish Catholic Wedding Officiants!

Danielle and Garrett’s Jewish Interfaith Wedding Ceremony – Why I do what I do

Danielle and Garrett’s Jewish Interfaith wedding ceremony is the perfect reason why I do what I do.

On to the party!

Jewish Christian Wedding in Fort Lauderdale, FL: Jewish-Interfaith Destination Weddings – A beautiful blend of both…

Planning their Jewish Christian Wedding

The Solution for this Jewish Christian Wedding? The Church by the Sea in Fort Lauderdale!

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