Rites of Passage is a new television series that examines key life-cycle moments in many different cultures.
Unfortunately, to see it, you have to subscribe to high-definition television service, as the series is available exclusively on Equator HD (Rogers 550, Bell TV 812), one of several HD-only channels.
Each of the series’ 13 half-hour episodes, examines the four common human experiences of birth, coming of age, marriage and death in various religions.
One of the first episodes is on death and looks at the Jewish chevra kadisha, the groups of men or women who prepare the body for ritual burial, as well as Hindu and Taoist death rituals.
Moshe Posner belongs to a chevra kadisha. In the show, he explains how out of respect there is no talking allowed in the room, except for prayers. He explains the symbolism of the white linen used for the shroud, the buckets of water and why twigs are stuck between the corpse’s thumb and index finger.
Unfortunately, this scene, shot in a room where the ritual is performed, does not take advantage of the high definition.
The colourful scenes of the Hindu and Taoist death rituals, on the other hand, are truly remarkable.
Another episode compares the Catholic sacrament of confirmation with the bar mitzvah ceremony.
On his 13th Hebrew birthday, Mark Kachuck, like other Jewish young people, becomes a bar mitzvah. We see him at Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue in Toronto, reading from the Torah with his friends and family.
At around the same age, Catholic children in Grade 8 celebrate their confirmation, which commemorates the spiritual journey from childhood to adulthood.
Upcoming shows look at the brit milah ceremony, compare Jewish and Muslim wedding ceremonies and examine Hindu, African, Aboriginal and other life-cycle rites.
In examining these rituals, Rites of Passage does a great job of creating understanding between different cultures and shows the differences, and at times, similarities, among various religious ceremonies.
Rites of Passage airs Thursday evenings at 8 p.m.