Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guidelines
These
guidelines have been written by the religious sub-committee
of the synagogue to assist parents in all aspects of
planning a Bar mitzvah or Bat mitzvah for their child.
Ordinarily parents of each
child in the community will receive a copy of these
guidelines before the child’s 12th
birthday.
The First Step
Contact should be made as soon as possible with the
synagogue. Please telephone 01727 860642, or send an email
to info@e-sams.org
with the birthday of the child.
The Bar/Bat mitzvah
co-coordinator will contact the parents with a confirmation
of the date and to offer any help that may be needed. The
co-coordinator is available at any time prior to the Bar/Bat
mitzvah to answer questions.
Timing
It is the custom of the community for both Bar and Bat
mitzvahs to take place on the Shabbat after the child’s 13th
Hebrew birthday. Assistance will be given in calculating
this date.
Tuition
Assistance will be given in locating a teacher. Lessons
usually begin a year before the proposed date.
A charge will be made for lessons, the level of
which to be decided in consultation with the teacher.
Rabbi
At the beginning of the year, an initial meeting with Rabbi
Jeremy involving child and parents should be arranged by the
parents. There should be at least one further meeting three
months before the Bar/Bat mitzvah when help will be given in
the preparation of a D’var Torah (talk on the Torah portion)
and planning the final stages in conjunction with the
teacher (including involvement of family members during the
service).
Rabbi Jeremy Gordon is happy
to work with the child and/or parents in addition to this,
in any way, if requested.
Venue
Bar/Bat mitzvahs are usually held at SAMS' normal services
venue, which has a capacity of 120. If you are expecting
more than this number to attend, assistance will be given in
locating an appropriate alternative venue. Any
additional charge, however, must be met by the family, who
should also provide assistance in the process of moving the
Ark, synagogue equipment and books, etc, and setting up for
the day. Restoration of everything is usually done on the
following Monday morning and help from the family will be
required.
Synagogue attendance
Regular attendance at Saturday morning services is strongly
encouraged.
Kiddush
It is customary for the family to provide a kosher Kiddush
for the community. Please liaise with the Bar/Bat mitzvah
co-coordinator who will put you in contact with the Kiddush
co-coordinator.
Publicity
There will usually be an announcement in the synagogue
diary, newsletter and in “Reflections” (the weekly AMS
publication distributed to all Masorti communities). Parents
should let the Bar/Bat mitzvah co-coordinator know if they
do not wish this to happen.
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