HI! I'M RABBI BRIAN!
A Ceremony That Feels Like You — Meaningful, Personal, and Unforgettable
Life’s most important moments deserve more than a script. I work with Jewish, interfaith, and same-sex couples and families to create ceremonies that are deeply personal, spiritually grounded, and full of heart—whether it’s your wedding, an interfaith wedding, a B’nei Mitzvah, a baby naming, or honoring a loved one’s life.
Serving Illinois and the Midwest, I specialize in reaching couples and communities who want something authentic, inclusive, and truly meaningful, particularly for same-sex weddings and Jewish lifecycle events.
Let’s create something meaningful together. Schedule a free consultation and start designing your ceremony today.
✔ Inclusive of all couples and backgrounds
✔ Personalized, collaborative process
✔ Trusted, professional, and deeply compassionate
lifecycle rituals
INTERFAITH WEDDINGS
Interfaith wedding ceremonies are a meaningful way to celebrate both your Jewish heritage and your partner's faith, highlighting the unique ways in which both of your religions and cultures embrace the universal themes of love and commitment. Our approach honors the new family you’re creating by weaving together Jewish traditions with rituals from other religions and cultures, making these interfaith weddings truly special.
My goal is to craft a ceremony that is inclusive of all aspects of your lives, rich in education and community. I promise to lead in a way that makes the experience accessible to everyone in attendance, inviting them to celebrate with you. First-time Jewish wedding guests often share how welcomed they feel into the rituals and appreciate learning something new!
Frequently, I officiate weddings where one of the partners is Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, or secular/humanistic, and I'm proud to also support same-sex weddings. We celebrate the diverse backgrounds of couples by inviting a sibling or friend to light a unity candle, read from Scripture or other texts, and offer an interfaith blessing, enriching the ceremony for all.
SAME-SEX WEDDINGS
MidwestRabbi.com is proud to support marriage equality and offers same-sex wedding officiant services for couples who want to celebrate their love and commitment to each other. Our commitment extends not only to same-sex weddings but to inclusive ceremonies like interfaith weddings, acknowledging the beauty in diverse backgrounds and beliefs.
While many aspects of these weddings mirror traditional Jewish lifecycle events, couples often take this opportunity to reimagine or create new traditions that resonate more closely with their identities.
Every wedding is unique—just like every couple—and reinterpreting tradition to create a day that feels authentically yours is one of the most rewarding parts of planning a wedding. I assist LGBTQIA+ couples, including those who prefer not to identify as "bride" and "groom."
Your wedding can be a reflection of what connects you and your partner, allowing you to tell your individual love story. This creative freedom is what makes the ceremony truly special.
Be confident in what brings you and your partner joy and invite your guests to share in that experience.
I can help you design a unique ceremony that captures your vision. For instance, at Jewish weddings, two glasses can be broken to symbolize the union of two grooms or two brides. This thoughtful incorporation of traditions can make your same-sex wedding an unforgettable celebration.
PLANNING YOUR WEDDING
A Simple, Supportive Process — From First Conversation to Ceremony Day
Step 1: Connect
We start with a relaxed, no-pressure consultation. I’ll learn about you, your story, and what matters most for your ceremony, whether you're planning an interfaith wedding, a same-sex wedding, or wish to honor Jewish lifecycle events. You’ll have space to ask questions and see if it feels like the right fit.
Step 2: Design Your Ceremony
Together, we craft a ceremony that reflects who you are—your values, your relationship, and your vision. I guide you through meaningful Jewish traditions (or help you reimagine them for your interfaith wedding) and we shape every element with intention.
Step 3: Refine & Prepare
You’ll receive a customized ceremony draft, and we’ll fine-tune it until it feels exactly right. I’m here for guidance, reassurance, and any last-minute details related to your same-sex wedding or Jewish lifecycle events—so you can feel fully prepared and at ease.
Step 4: Your Ceremony
On your big day, I hold the space with warmth, presence, and professionalism—allowing you to be fully in the moment, knowing everything is taken care of.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. I’ll guide you every step of the way—ensuring your ceremony, whether it's an interfaith or same-sex wedding, feels natural, meaningful, and truly yours.
Let’s begin your journey.
Schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward a ceremony you’ll always remember.
Bris/Brit & Baby Namings
Funerals, Unveilings, and Ceremonies to Mark Loss
Bris/Brit & Baby Namings
The brit milah ('covenant of circumcision') and brit bat (baby naming/'covenant of the daughter') ceremonies are beautiful Jewish lifecycle events that provide an opportunity to welcome the newest member of your family into the Jewish community and solidify their identity with a Hebrew name.
Through rituals, songs, and blessings that have been passed down through generations, we'll bless your child with a meaningful Hebrew name, marking the beginning of their Jewish journey. I'll support you in selecting a Hebrew name that honors a loved one's legacy or carries significant meaning to enhance your child's life.
Traditionally, a bris or brit milah is held when a baby boy is eight days old, while baby naming ceremonies can be conducted at any time. Many parents choose to have their sons circumcised in a hospital and then hold separate baby naming ceremonies. If you are planning a bris, especially within the context of interfaith weddings or same-sex weddings, I can refer you to a trusted mohel or mohelet in your area who performs this timeless ritual.
Bar/Bat/B Mitzvahs
Funerals, Unveilings, and Ceremonies to Mark Loss
Bris/Brit & Baby Namings
The most important aspect of being a Jew is participating in a Jewish community. I wholeheartedly encourage you to consider having your service on the bimah of a local synagogue, particularly one where you have a family relationship or membership. Your congregational rabbi or cantor can assist you in planning all aspects of your learning and ceremony, providing tutors if needed.
Many families may choose to hold their child's Bar/Bat/B Mitzvah service in a unique location, such as their backyard, a favorite restaurant, or outdoors in nature, while still creating a sacred atmosphere for this significant Jewish lifecycle event. Even though the service might take place in a non-traditional setting, we will come together to celebrate your child becoming a Jewish adult.
I am available to tutor you or your child, ensuring that the ceremony honors your family’s identity. This commitment extends to planning interfaith weddings or same-sex weddings, as I support all families in leading a meaningful service that reflects who you are.
Funerals, Unveilings, and Ceremonies to Mark Loss
Funerals, Unveilings, and Ceremonies to Mark Loss
Funerals, Unveilings, and Ceremonies to Mark Loss
Judaism's wisdom provides a sense of grounding in end-of-life rituals, including hospice care, funerals, Shiva, Tahara, and stone dedications (unveilings), as well as Jewish lifecycle events that honor loved ones and mark transitions around change and loss. These religious rituals can bring peace, structure, comfort, and community support during such experiences. They serve as an anchor when grief alters our sense of time and space.
If you are seeking guidance during this difficult time, please feel free to contact me. I am here for you and can perform the service at the funeral home or graveside. I am also available for stone unveilings and Yahrzeit memorials, which commemorate the anniversary of a loved one's passing. Additionally, I can assist with interfaith weddings and same-sex weddings, ensuring that all couples receive the respect and recognition they deserve.
For those unable to attend in person, services can always be offered online, allowing us to celebrate together, regardless of distance.
Spiritual Counseling
Community Rituals, High Holiday Services
Funerals, Unveilings, and Ceremonies to Mark Loss
As an ordained rabbi and spiritual leader, I draw on my experience with couples and families to make navigating life's transitions—such as interfaith weddings and Jewish lifecycle events—a more supportive, less lonely process. Counseling can be especially helpful in times of grief and bereavement, or when choices around building an interfaith home and family raise questions. I also work with individuals who are navigating same-sex weddings and lifecycles in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Community Rituals, High Holiday Services
Community Rituals, High Holiday Services
Community Rituals, High Holiday Services
For many years, I have led Shabbat services and High Holiday services in congregations throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Many opportunities for belonging and connection exist outside traditional settings, including interfaith weddings and Jewish lifecycle events. I have been blessed to be invited into many communities to celebrate holidays, learn Torah together, and perform rituals to create meaning and memories. From a Passover Seder at a nursing home to a Shabbat candle lighting on the shores of Lake Michigan, I have seen the power of creating a sacred space within a diverse community that embraces all, including those celebrating same-sex weddings.
Jewish Conversions & Learning
Community Rituals, High Holiday Services
Community Rituals, High Holiday Services
Do you need some practice remembering how to recite the Four Questions at your Seder? Or perhaps you're reflecting on some significant philosophical Jewish questions as you plan your interfaith weddings, or celebrate various Jewish lifecycle events. I can help answer your queries about Jewish rituals, texts, and traditions. It's never too late to learn to read Hebrew, sing holiday blessings, or explore and debate the lessons and wisdom of the Torah. Additionally, I can coach you through the process of conversion to Judaism, working with local rabbis in a Bet Din, to become a Jew by Choice, whether for your own journey or for same-sex weddings that honor diverse paths.
