Bnei Mitzvah
Bar & Bat Mitzvah
Bar/Bat Mitzvah is an important time in the life of a family and a congregation. For a child this moment represents a significant step on the road to adult responsibilities. For a family, this is a celebration of their child's coming of age in the Jewish community and an acknowledgement of reverence for generations of Jews past and hopes for generations to come. For the community it is an opportunity to bear witness to the power of our tradition and to truly embrace, in joy and faith, a new young adult.
The Temple Israel Bar/Bat Mitzvah Online Guide for Families is offered as an aid to make the experience of your approaching simha more meaningful to you. Since it contains the very latest information, please read it thoroughly, even if you have had an older child as a previous Bar/Bat Mitzvah, as some of the practices of Temple Israel may have changed. As your child's Bat/Bat Mitzvah day draws closer, you should consult this guide periodically to help you in your planning.
The process of preparing to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah involves the individual child on one level and the entire family on another. In the broadest sense, preparation for this day began years ago with the creation of a Jewish atmosphere in your home, with commitments to a Jewish way of life and Jewish education and through active affiliation with a synagogue.
Our clergy, staff, and the entire Temple Israel family extend to you and your family the traditional benediction: May you be privileged to rear your child "l'Torah, l'huppah, ul'ma'asim tovim," to the love of learning, to the joys of marriage, and to the satisfactions of a life spent performing good deeds.
Information is being updated. Contact Rabbi Fineberg with Qs.
INTRO Letter from Temple Israel
START Timeline
ONE Setting a Date
TWO Educational Preparation & Religious Requirements
THREE Workshops with the Rabbi, Cantor & Education Director
FOUR The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Service
SEVEN Mitzvah Project & Tz'dakkah Ideas
EIGHT Bar/Bat Mitzvah Day & After Your Celebration
NINE The Rules of Shabbat
TEN Simha Planning: Sanctuary, Invitations, Inviting Your Child's Friends, Gifts & Gratitude
ELEVEN Kiddush
TWELVE The Celebration – Facilities Information & Financial Responsibilities
Printable Resources
Download and print these helpful PDF forms and other information pages. Please note the Ritual Honors Request Form is required.
Really Helpful Printable Checklist: A handy list to help you stay organized and on target.
Parents' Blessings: It is customary for the parents to bless their children on the bima in Hebrew and/or in English.
Torah Blessings: For you and your guests honor with this aliyah, the same sheet they'll see when they're called up to the bima.
Hagbah: Instructions for lifting the Torah.
Ritual Honors Request Form: This form lists the various aliyot (honors) available to your family. Print, complete, and return this form to the office.
Sample Bat Mitzvah Program: An example of how one family helped guide their guests through their daughter's bat mitzvah service.
Berger Hall Rental Floor Diagram: Use this page to design the floor plan for your simha celebration.
Founders' Hall Rental Floor Diagram: Use this page to design the floor plan for your simha celebration.
Tree of Life Order Form: Honor your child and this joyous occasion with a commemorative leaf on the beautiful Tree of Life sculpture which hangs outside Founders' Hall.
Directions to Temple Israel (2 per page): Directions to Temple Israel set up two per page (for invitations, etc.).
Directions to Temple Israel (3 per page): Directions to Temple Israel set up three on a page (for business envelopes, etc.).
Tue, March 21 2023
28 Adar 5783
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Tuesday ,
MarMarch 21 , 2023Leaders of Passover Seders Program
Tuesday, Mar 21st 7:45p to 9:30p
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Thursday ,
MarMarch 23 , 2023Gateways Access to Jewish Education Program
Thursday, Mar 23rd 7:00p to 9:00p
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Thursday ,
MarMarch 23 , 2023Hearing Men's Voices
Thursday, Mar 23rd 7:45p to 9:00p
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Friday ,
MarMarch 24 , 2023Cantor Candidate Weekend with Cantor Ehrlich
Friday, Mar 24th 6:15p to 9:00p
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Saturday ,
MarMarch 25 , 2023Cantor Candidate Weekend with Cantor Ehrlich
Shabbat, Mar 25th 9:00a to 12:00p
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Saturday ,
MarMarch 25 , 2023Sing-a-long with Cantor Ehrlich
Motzei Shabbat, Mar 25th 8:00p to 9:00p
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Sunday ,
MarMarch 26 , 2023Jewish Routes with Rabbi Fineberg
Sunday, Mar 26th 10:00a to 12:00p
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Monday ,
MarMarch 27 , 2023Crucial Moments in Israeli History Through the Lens of Short Stories - Part One
Monday, Mar 27th 8:00p to 9:30p
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Wednesday ,
MarMarch 29 , 2023Brotherhood Yellow Candle Mailing
Wednesday, Mar 29th 5:30p to 8:00p
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Sunday ,
AprApril 2 , 2023Family Passover Program
Sunday, Apr 2nd 10:00a to 11:00a
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Thursday ,
AprApril 20 , 2023Hazak Event
Thursday, Apr 20th 7:30p to 9:30p
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Tuesday ,
AprApril 25 , 2023Hearing Men's Voices
Tuesday, Apr 25th 7:45p to 9:00p
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Sunday ,
AprApril 30 , 2023Yom Ha’Atzmaout Celebration - Zimryia
Sunday, Apr 30th 9:00a to 11:00a
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Saturday ,
MayMay 6 , 2023Family Havdalah & Lag Ba'Omer Celebration
Shabbat, May 6th 8:30p to 9:30p
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Thursday ,
MayMay 11 , 2023Hazak Event
Thursday, May 11th 7:30p to 9:30p