Bet Mitzvah is a Jewish rite of passage – a way to mark our children’s formal recognition as young adults in the Jewish community. Our congregational community comes together to honor our students as they reach this milestone on the road to maturity. The words Bet Mitzvah mean “one who is responsible for religious obligations (mitzvot).” Hence, Jewish adulthood is attained by accepting the responsibilities and obligations of living as a Jew.
We know that preparing for Bet Mitzvah can be an intense and emotional time for families but the support of our clergy and community makes the process much less stressful. Our 2024-25 Bet Mitzvah Handbook includes the traditions surrounding Bet Mitzvah at Congregation B’nai Israel. It will help your family plan and share the process of participating in one of Judaism’s greatest mitzvot, that of leading the Congregation in prayer and being called to read from Torah. Children usually become Bet Mitzvah during the Shabbat morning service at 11:00am but the earlier Shabbat minyan is also available.
The Religious Practices Committee maintains a longstanding policy that Friday night and Havdalah services are not available for Bet Mitzvah. It is a blessing to have a Congregation of almost 750 families and a school of over 300 students. Holidays and Congregational events, as well as summer vacations, are all considerations when assigning dates for Bet Mitzvah and we also appreciate our congregants’ flexibility, as there are fewer than 40 available Shabbatot. To be eligible for Bet Mitzvah, a child must complete our Hebrew curriculum and be enrolled in our Religious School at the time of the ceremony. Regular attendance is expected, and if the Religious School indicates that attendance requirements have not been met, no date will be assigned. Similarly, an assigned date may be withdrawn. Please keep in mind that the clergy are available to meet with you at any time to discuss questions and concerns, and you should feel free to call on them.
B’nai Israel is a wonderful place to celebrate your child’s Bet Mitzvah. Our facility can accommodate dinner after the Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday evening and either an afternoon or evening celebration on Saturday. There is also space available for a more intimate Kiddush after the Shabbat service. Congregants will receive more detailed information about the facility at one of their Bet Mitzvah group meetings. You can also access these materials by visiting our Facilities Rental page which can be found here.
It is understood that every child has unique abilities. The Rabbis and Cantor will tailor each student’s part in the worship service accordingly. Generally, the Bet Mitzvah will:
The season before the Bet Mitzvah, your child will be part of a special 13-week class taught by the Cantor. The class is offered during Kitah Zayin (7th grade) and meets on Tuesday evenings (during regular Religious School) and Thursday afternoons, 4:00‑4:30 p.m. (When seventh-graders are not in the Cantor’s class, they attend Religious School on Monday evenings, but do not attend on Thursday afternoons.) Children celebrating their Bet Mitzvah in the spring of 7th grade begin the class the previous fall. Children celebrating in the fall of 8th grade begin the previous spring. Special arrangements are made for those children whose Bet Mitzvah takes place in the fall of 7th grade.
In the Cantor’s class, your child will learn to chant all blessings surrounding the Torah and Haftarah portions, as well as selected passages from the prayer book. Learning this material is aided by the use of a professionally produced audio download, which your child will receive when s/he begins preparation with the Cantor. The audio file will be used in conjunction with the prayer book your child will also receive.
During the class, students will practice and recite these prayers with and in front of their peers. The material from the Cantor’s class must be mastered before private instruction begins. If the Cantor determines that a student is having difficulty learning the prescribed materials, the student may be asked to supplement their preparation by studying in the Religious School’s Tutoring Center.
Regular attendance in both the Cantor’s class and Religious School classes are prerequisites for a student to become a Bet Mitzvah. You can find the downloads for the prayers a bet mitzvah needs to learn here.
Individual preparation begins four to six months before your child’s Bet Mitzvah. Your child will spend a half‑hour each week in one‑on‑one tutoring at B’nai Israel. During this time, your child will learn to chant Torah and Haftarah.
The Torah has no vowels or cantillation signs (the ancient form of musical notation that indicates the tune for each word). During these sessions, the student will learn the traditional melodies associated with their Torah and Haftarah portions and will become comfortable chanting Torah directly from the ancient scroll.
Individual preparation also includes discussion of the week’s portion. A Bet Mitzvah student will meet with one of the Rabbis or the Director of Education for study and reflection on their Torah portion. The student will prepare a D’var Torah (personal interpretation), which they will present at their Bet Mitzvah.
We feel strongly that the experience for the students becomes most positive when parents also are involved and supportive. At the conclusion of the Cantor’s Class, parents will be asked to join their children to learn about the history of Bet Mitzvah, the Shabbat morning service and the student’s specific Torah portion. In addition, families will be invited and encouraged to attend two additional family gatherings, one on a Saturday afternoon and another on a Sunday morning. These programs are meant to provide enrichment and an opportunity for families to share experiences.
The parent also serves an important role in helping the child prepare at home. During the days between visits with the Cantor/tutor, your child will be expected to study the portion at least 30 minutes each evening. The amount of time needed will vary with each child. We all know, however, that daily study is crucial. Learning cannot be achieved by “cramming” once or twice a week, or by studying furiously just prior to meeting with the Cantor/tutor.
Our Mitzvot Program is a wonderful, optional opportunity offered at Congregation B’nai Israel. This program involves the Bet Mitzvah selecting mitzvot from the categories of Religious Observance, Community Service and Study. Working with their peers, creating mitzvot and building community ties, the student dedicates him/herself to fulfilling these mitzvot before their Bet Mitzvah.
A Mitzvot Coordinator assists in developing an individualized program, and provides guidance throughout the program. The Bet Mitzvah receives a Certificate of Accomplishment at his/her Bet Mitzvah for the successful completion of the project.
The Mitzvot Program is intended to serve as a meaningful extension of one’s Bet Mitzvah process, to focus on the significance of the word Mitzvah, and to plant within a child seeds that flourish into a lifetime commitment toward living Jewishly.