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Synagogue attendance
In order to be familiar with the Shabbat morning
service at The Jewish Center, students and their parents should
attend Shabbat morning services regularly throughout
the year preceding the B’nai Mitzvah celebration. We
recommend attending 20 times, or an average of two services per month. Students
must, at a minimum, fulfill the Religious School requirement of 10 services
and 8 family classes in Kitah Vav and 18 Shabbat morning classes
and services in Kitah Zayin. Shabbat morning attendance
is required for all students, including those whose B’nai
Mitzvah will be celebrated at a time other than Shabbat morning;
this is to ensure that every student acquires the experience necessary
to participate fully in a Jewish congregation in the future. Attending
services helps familiarize the student and family with the prayers and
choreography of Shabbat, and also helps to make them feel comfortable
as part of the congregation. Those with Minchah B’nai
Mitzvah events are encouraged to attend at least one Shabbat
Minchah service prior to their date, as well.
All students in the year preceding their B’nai
Mitzvah are required to perform ten hours of individual community
service as an expression of the central Jewish value of Tikkun
Olam (repairing the world) and Gemilut Hasadim (acts
of kindness). Each student will meet with Rabbi Tucker twice during the six months before his or her event to study together the student’s parashah and to begin developing a written D’var Torah—a two to three minute long speech about the meaning of that week’s Torah or Haftarah portion. Parents are encouraged to participate in both meetings and also to study their child’s parashah at home as a family prior to meeting with Rabbi Tucker. This brief D’var Torah should be prepared in time for the meeting with Rabbi Feldman one month prior to the event. Rabbi Tucker will contact families approximately six months before the event to begin this part of the process. TzedakahWe encourage all of our students and families to consider using this special time to help less fortunate people in our community by contributing tzedakah. Your child may wish to designate in advance a favorite Jewish organization or foundation to which he or she will contribute a certain portion of the gifts received. Many B’nai Mitzvah families also choose to contribute to tzedakah in honor of their simchah. A list of organizations can be found in the B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator’s office. Meeting with Rabbi FeldmanRabbi Feldman will meet with each student and his or her family approximately one month before the celebration. The B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator will arrange the date and time of this appointment approximately 3 months in advance. The meeting should be viewed as an opportunity for the family to share personal things with the Rabbi as well as a discussion of the student’s D’var Torah. Feel free to ask the Rabbi any questions about the service or to raise any personal concerns with him. This will also be the time to review which family members will be participating in the service and to discuss the service itself.
THE B’NAI MITZVAH SHABBAT Friday Evening Attendance at the Friday night service
is required for all B’nai Mitzvah candidates and their
families the weekend of the celebration, whether they will be called
to the Torah on Shabbat morning or Minchah. Services begin promptly at 9:45 a.m. Please
arrive by 9:30 a.m. Please advise your guests
to be early if you wish to greet them before services. Inform
them of expected behavior and appropriate attire: a decorum card
is available, which we would like you to include with your invitation
(also see para 29, Shabbat Etiquette at The Jewish Center). Directions
to The Jewish Center appear on the back of the decorum card. A
Shabbat Worship Guide is available at every seat in the Sanctuary;
personalized programs are not permitted. The B’nai Mitzvah family sponsors the congregational Kiddush at the conclusion of the service. This may include platters of vegetables, fruit, and baked goods. This can be arranged privately through approved caterers. (Many families enjoy sponsoring a congregational Kiddush Luncheon in the Social Hall, but this is not required.) Please contact the Administrative Director, who will assist you in arranging your Kiddush or Kiddush Luncheon. On any given Shabbat there may be a baby naming, anniversary, pre-wedding aufruf, or other special occasion, and on these occasions expenses for the Kiddush may be shared among participating families. Please check with the Administrative Director to find out if anything is scheduled for your particular date. Minchah (Saturday afternoon) CelebrationThe starting time for the Minchah B’nai Mitzvah celebration is dependent on the time of year. The B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator will discuss the appropriate starting time for your service. Please be in your seats before the service begins. The typical Minchah service takes approximately one hour. Members of our congregation volunteer their time to serve as Gabbai, Shamash, and Hagbahah for your event, and they appreciate your consideration. Please encourage guests to arrive promptly, because the child’s participation in the service begins immediately. We recommend that your invitation state a starting time 15 minutes prior to the actual start of the service. Participation in the Service by the B’nai Mitzvah: Shabbat morningIn addition to their participation in the Friday night service, all students perform the following at the Shabbat morning service:
The tutor will teach the following parts of the service in the order designated below. Once the tutor is satisfied with level Aleph, the student can move on to level Bet.
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