The holidays are more than just a time of gift giving and receiving. They are also a time when families of all different religious affiliations get together, share good news and introduce important loved ones into the family fold.

And, some of these new family additions are here to stay—chances are good that either you or someone you know became engaged this holiday season.

Having your family around at this joyous time is always quite exciting and informative and often loved ones share their engagement and wedding stories, as well as beloved wedding customs. 

For Jewish families, there are probably reminiscences of working with the Rabbi on the ceremony. Many of these memories come from older family members who attended a particular synagogue, and had a strong relationship with their Rabbi. They talk of times where synagogue affiliation was at over 90 percent and interfaith marriages accounted for less than 10 percent of Jews getting married.

However, we now live in a modern world, and the Jewish community is very different than it once was. Today, affiliation with a synagogue has markedly decreased. In addition, today, more and more Jews are marrying people of a different faith or religious history, and the rate of intermarriage in the American Jewish community is now around 60 percent.

Therefore, choosing a Rabbi to officiate a ceremony is not as easy as it once was and may call for doing some  research to find a “congregation without walls,” especially if you are not affiliated with a synagogue.

In the tri-state area, many people are turning to Rabbi Andrea Frank, an Ordained Reform Rabbi, based out of  Westchester County, in NY, who regularly officiates over Traditional, Civil, Interfaith, Elopement and Same Sex Jewish Marriage ceremonies, in New York (including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island and Westchester County), as well as in Connecticut, and New Jersey.

This modern Rabbi also accommodates creative wedding ceremony locations, including destination weddings, cruise ship weddings, and weddings in other states and countries. Rabbi Andrea does not work at a particular synagogue; rather, her parishioners come from all over the world creating a vast virtual congregation.

Rabbi Andrea Frank is a modern Rabbi for modern times. Her website, http://www.jewish-wedding-rabbi.com, explains much more than just Jewish customs, it also boasts a virtual classroom, and is set up for Skyping and Ichatting with couples to plan and personalize their individual wedding ceremonies.

“It is very important to have a Rabbi to officiate a Jewish ceremony to ensure that it is done properly,” says Rabbi Andrea Frank, who also helps couples get their Ketubah, Kiddush Cups, and attractive glass for the breaking of the glass part of the ceremony, and helps them arrange for Jewish processional music.

She adds, “In today’s technical world, there are so many ways to connect with people, and I really enjoy learning and adopting new tools to connect with people, whether it be via over the internet, on the phone or even through my Facebook social media page.”

“A while back,realized that while there are many traditional Rabbis available at existing congregations, there are also many unaffiliated Jewish people in need of a Rabbi,” says Rabbi Andrea Frank.

“I decided to become a Rabbi for the unaffiliated Jews, and have been doing so for 7 years,” adds the traveling Jewish Rabbi, who also boasts a traveling Torah and Chuppah.

While Rabbi Andrea Frank  has certainly performed her share of weddings, she also provides Rabbi services for all areas of the Jewish lifecycle, from Baby Naming’s, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremonies with preparations (for all ages, as well as Torah study and Hebrew Lessons), Conversion to Judaism, Funerals, Unveilings, Shiva Minyans, Adoption Blessings, House Blessings, Commitment Ceremonies, Renewal of Wedding Vow Ceremonies, Matchmaking Services, Marriage Guidance and Counseling, Gets, Pet Funerals, and so much more.

Rabbi Andrea is a virtual one-stop-shop. Once a person uses her for a particular ceremony, they always come back for future Jewish Lifecycle occasions.

"I love what I do and often hear that my passion shows in my ceremonies,” says the Rabbi, who is currently teaching and preparing a woman in France for her Conversion to Judaism, and helping a student, in Australia, prepare for her Bat Mitzvah, as well helping a number of couples prepare to get married under the Chuppah.