One of the truly great traditions in Judaism surrounds that moment when a
Jewish community recognizes that a child or an adult has taken
on the responsibilities of Jewish practice. In our community,
Temple Beth Shalom, this event is treated with great joy and solemnity.
The joy comes from watching our children and adult members
elevate themselves to a new level of understanding. Solemnity
comes to us from the realization that the challenges of being Jewish
are no less diminished in todays world.
Thanks to the act of B'nai Mitzvah, we in the community can
celebrate the addition of a new member to our observant community.
There are essential preparation steps that must be taken
to get ready for this day.
To Begin If you are an adult (over 13 years old)
and have an interest in becoming "B'nai Mitzvah" then the first thing to do is contact the Rabbi or the Shalom School
principal. They will provide you with a brief orientation and direct you
to one of the temple's B'nai Mitzvah tutors.
If you have a child that is about to pass their twelfth birthday,
the procedure is the same. Once a tutor is assigned
the process of getting ready will begin.
The Process
Each Bar/Bat Mitzvah will be required to do the following:
- Prepare and chant a Torah portion
- Prepare and chant a Haftorah portion
- Assist in the conduct of the morning service
- Prepare and deliver a speech to the congregation
- Identify and execute your own mitzvah project
The assigned tutor will work with you to learn the required parsha,
blessings, and music necessary to complete the B'nai Mitzvah
requirements. No musical training is required. An adult
or child that has completed Jewish training through the Shalom School
will find many of the concepts and requirements familiar already. In
addition, the Shalom School will have already covered the basics of a
Jewish service. An adult who has already attended services regularly
will be, at least, familiar with the service and should have no
problem learning the remainder of what they need to know.
For your reference, click here to open up the TBS B'nai Mitzvah Handbook. This document
will answer most of your questions about the B'nai Mitzvah process here at Temple Beth Shalom
Recommendations
In order to speed the process
of getting ready, the Shalom School recommends that B'nai Mitzvah
candidates attend every service. In this way, you can easily
become familiar with the service liturgy and prayers. This
will be an integral part of the day.
As you or your child gets into the study process, there will
be a need to set aside a small amount of time each day to practice your
lessons the tutor has given for the week. The tutor is very
experienced at preparation requirements. They will guide you
through the process so it is important you work with them and progress
on schedule.
Lastly, during the sessions with the tutor and your study at home,
questions and issues will come up regarding the Torah and Haftarah
portions you are studying. This is a great opportunity to
gain a deeper understanding of Jewish law, history, and practice as
well as the interpretation of the scripture. You should not
hesitate to contact your tutor, the Rabbi, or the Shalom School
principal with any questions you have.
We are all committed to helping you get the most
out of your experience with this great tradition. Let us know how
best we can help you!
