B’nai Mitzvah

Your child’s bar/bat mitzvah is an affirmation of your family’s commitment to Jewish community, identity and education. It is an exhilarating moment in a journey of learning, spiritual growth and commitment to mitzvot. Moving from childhood to adulthood, b’nai mitzvah students mark an important moment in taking on responsibility on their special day.  As sons or daughters of the commandments, they commit themselves to be proud members of our ancient people. We celebrate this rite of passage on Saturday mornings at our Shabbat Service after the child’s 13th birthday. Our young people offer their interpretation or their parasha (Torah portion); assist in leading the service as well as chanting from Torah and Haftarah. Temple membership and at least 3 years of Religious education is required.  We accommodate children with special needs and also welcome adult bar and bat mitzvah students.

Children begin their formal training for b’nai mitzvah about 6 months before their date, which is usually assigned in the 5th grade. Training includes weekly private sessions with Rabbi Moritt in addition to our weekly Religious School, mitzvah projects and synagogue attendance.

In the year before becoming b’nai mitzvah, the children are introduced to their year of “becoming” with the introduction of our B’mitzvotav program. Self-directed, family oriented, and socially conscious; this program opens the door to Jewish cultural exploration, and specifies required hours in volunteer and/or social action engagement. B’mitzvotav rounds out the religious program with important elements of personal meaning and cultural context.

Please sign into our Member Section For our B’nai Mitzvah Handbook, B’mitzvotav Program, Family Honors worksheet and other b’nai mitzvah materials, or for the bar/bat mitzvah date request form.