Upon completing a course of study, our students become candidates for Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Our B’nai Mitzvah program is comprised of preparatory coursework integrated into the Religious School curriculum and includes attendance at Shabbat services, private tutorials, and a series of study sessions with the Rabbi or Educator. Study focuses on the process of Torah, the meaning of B’nai Mitzvah, an analysis of the student’s Torah and Haftara portions, and mastering the Shabbat liturgy.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah (child of the Commandments) is a very old ceremony. Its origins are lost in time. In the early Middle Ages, when a young person reached a certain level of maturity, ready to take on serious religious and family responsibilities, he was called to read a section of the Torah as a demonstration of his new status in life. By the time Bar Mitzvah became a ceremony of record in the late Middle Ages, festivities were added to accompany the religious service. While there are isolated instances of young women being called to read from the Torah in nineteenth century Europe, Bat Mitzvah (daughter of the Commandments) is an innovation of American Progressive Judaism. In our Congregation, our young men and women prepare equally for this special life cycle event.

On the Shabbat of the B’nai Mitzvah, the student joins the Rabbi on the Bimah to lead the Congregation in Hebrew and English prayers. At the center of the B’nai Mitzvah ceremony is the Torah service, the reading of a portion from the first five books of the Bible known as the Five Books of Moses or in Hebrew, the Torah. On Shabbat morning, the Torah is removed from the Ark and a different portion is read and studied until the entire scroll is read: it takes an entire year.  By sharing the same Shabbat Torah portion, Jews all over the world are linked to one another.

At one point in our service, the Congregation showers the B’nai Mitzvah with Mazel Tov congratulations using candy guests received upon entering the synagogue. We shower the B’nai Mitzvah with sweets, symbolizing our hope that a life of sweetness and happiness will be granted.

At Congregation Beth Sholom, the B’nai Mitzvah is a community as well as a family celebration. All are invited to join us for Shabbat evening and morning services and to enjoy our traditional Shabbat evening Oneg Shabbat reception and Shabbat lunch following morning services.