Bar/Bat Mitzvah

The day your child accepts the adult responsibilities of the Jewish faith is cause for celebration - and much preparation! Our Rabbis and Cantor take special pride in getting ready these future leaders of our faith.

Cantor Kurland teaches trope (melody) for both Torah and Haftarah readings, helps your pre-teen learn and lead parts of the Shabbat service, and builds their confidence in standing before an audience. Rabbi Rosenbaum prepares our young minds to speak in public, as they deliver a short homily (d'var) about the assigned Torah portion (parsha). He works on an individual basis to help boys and girls to understand the lessons of their parsha in historical context and how they apply to today's world.

Dates for our b’nai mitzvah are assigned in the 5th grade by committee, about 2-1/2 years in advance. As parents, you can expect to meet with Rabbi Jill Levy, the Director of Congregational Learning, about a year before your family’s scheduled date for an introductory meeting, when your child’s parsha material will be given, you’ll set up your yearly appointments, and you can ask questions. Nine months before your family’s date, your child will meet in joint learning and private sessions with Cantor, and with Rabbi Rosenbaum 6 months before.

Parents are also expected to participate in home-learning with their child. Contact us today to learn more - don't delay!

For questions about date scheduling, contact Sharon Constantine, chair of the B’nai Mitzvah Committee.

For general information, contact Rabbi Jill Levy, the Director of Congregational Learning.

The Women’s League Judaica Shop has a nice variety of talit, kippot, yads, and other ritual items for your child’s special day and beyond.