A Bar Mitzvah
According to Jewish tradition, a Bar Mitzvah reflects a major turning point in the life of a Jewish boy and as such, we believe very strongly that every boy should celebrate this milestone in a meaningful and traditional manner. We are proud to present you a variety of options to personalize your service and make this a day to remember for years to come.
Bar Mitzvah Service:
A typical Bar Mitzvah service includes:
• Prayer service
• Reading of the Torah, Haftarah
• Mazal Tov & Candy throw
• Speeches delivered by the Rabbi, the Bar Mitzvah boy
• Reception
The Bar Mitzvah boy may choose to do as much as lead the entire service and read the Torah and Haftarah or as little as just being called up to the Torah for an Aliyah (or anything in between.)
Tutoring:
The Bar Mitzvah boy needs to work with a private tutor once a week for approximately 10 months to learn how to lead the services, read from the Torah and put on Tefillin.
Mitzvah Project:
The Bar Mitzvah boy is encouraged to choose a Tzedaka project, (volunteering his time or donating his “maaser” [10% of his earnings] etc.) in honor of his Bar Mitzvah.
Ceremony Options:
Shabbat Morning Service:
A Shabbat Morning Service begins at 8.30 a.m. with Shacharit (morning service.) It includes the Torah, Haftarah reading, the speeches and then the Mussaf service. Services generally end approximately 12:15 pm., after which guests join the congregation for a Kiddush. Please remember that videos, cameras and microphones are not allowed on Shabbat.
Weekday Service:
The weekday Shacharit (morning service), short Torah service (no Haftarah) and speeches take approximately 1,5 to 2 hrs. You may choose to have a Bar Mitzvah on a Monday, Thursday, or Rosh Chodesh (1 st day of Hebrew month.) Days like Memorial Day, Presidents Day, Thanksgiving Day and Labor Day might work for your family.
Havdala Service: (No Torah Reading)
The service can begin any time from one hour after Shabbat ends. The Bar Mitzvah boy welcomes everyone and speaks about the Havdala Ceremony. He recites Havdala honoring close family members by having them participate in parts of the service. The Bar mitzvah boy recites special Saturday night prayers as well. This 1 hour ceremony includes speeches and the parent's blessing. Separate seating is not necessary, unless you plan on doing the Arvit Service. Videos and pictures are permitted. Please remember that since there is no Torah Reading, there are no Aliyahs to the Torah either.

Guidelines (for Bar Mitzvah)
•Boy must be after 13th birthday (according to Hebrew birthday) on day of his bar mitzvah celebration.
•He must attend Jewish Day school or our Hebrew School program as well as private Bar Mitzvah lessons (as needed.)
•Boy (and hopefully entire family) must attend Shabbat services a minimum of 18 times as well as all holiday services the year preceding his bar mitzvah.
•Family must purchase NEW Tefillin and Bar Mitzvah boy learn how to do them.
•The family should provide Kippas for guests at the Bar Mitzvah Ceremony.
•You may have a photographer or video for the ceremony only on weekdays. For Shabbat Bar Mitzvahs, you may want to plan on a pre-Bar Mitzvah photography session at the synagogue.
•The family is responsible to buy the Kosher candy that is “Showered” on the Bar Mitzvah boy. Sunkist Gems are highly recommended, as they are soft.
•All foods and liquor served after the service must meet the kosher standards of Temple Moses.
•Please note that there is separate seating during the services. The only option for a mixed seating service is a Havdala service – but then that does not include any Torah reading or Aliyahs.

A Bat Mitzvah
According to Jewish tradition, a Bat Mitzvah reflects a major turning point in the life of a Jewish girl and as such, we believe very strongly that every girl should celebrate this milestone in a meaningful and traditional manner.
We are proud to present you a variety of options to personalize your service and make this day, one to remember for years to come.
Bat Mitzvah Service:
The following is a description of a typical Bat Mitzvah service, which is approximately forty-five minutes to one hour, and includes readings from the Torah portion and D'var Torahs (speeches). Nine months of practice is typically necessary.
• Welcome & Introduction
• Special prayer & Explanation
• Rabbi's Comments
• D'var Torah on Parasha and Haftarah
• (includes readings of selected verses)
• Parents' Greeting
• Yivarechecha Blessing
• Candy Throw and Congratulations from Everyone
• Mazal Tov sung and played
• Reception
Optional Candle Lighting Ceremonies : The Bat Mitzvah girl may choose to honor family members and friends by inviting them to light a candle. She may have as many as 13 candles.
Tutoring:
The Pre-Bat Mitzvah “curriculum” serves as a forum for discussion and discovery, encouraging the Bat Mitzvah girls to learn more about this unique time in their lives.
The Bat Mitzvah girl will be paired up with a special tutor who will cover the following syllabus:
•In depth learning of her Torah portion including selected commentaries
•Comprehensive review of the Haftarah and that historical period Famous Biblical Women (will compile a booklet with details from their lives and lessons that can be learned from them)
•Jewish Life Cycles (unless that has been covered in her Jewish schooling)
•Research and discussions on the 3 “women's mitzvoth” and their importance to Jewish survival.
•Translation and history of her favorite prayer
After the majority of the studying has been accomplished, the Bat Mitzvah girl and her tutor will prepare speeches and select verses to read and explain from her Torah and Haftarah portions, favorite prayer, and more.
Mitzvah Projects:
The Bat Mitzvah girl will start lighting Shabbat candles every Friday night when she begins her training and will study the history and customs of this tradition.
If she'd like, she can complete a project about this mitzvah to be displayed at her Bat Mitzvah ceremony. In addition, the Bat Mitzvah girl is encouraged to choose a Tzedaka project, (volunteering her time or donating her “maaser” etc.) in honor of her Bat Mitzvah.

Mazal tov on your upcoming simcha!

Ceremony Options:
Friday Night Candle Lighting Service:
The Bat Mitzvah ceremony is followed by the Friday night service for all guests to attend. There will be separate seating and a Mechitza during the actual Shabbat service.
In a Friday evening service, the Bat Mitzvah girl leads the women and girls in the candle lighting and blessing. In the winter the candle lighting will be at the very beginning of the ceremony, and in the summer, the candle lighting will be after the Bat Mitzvah ceremony but before the Shabbat evening service. Please remember that videos and cameras are only allowed until the Candle lighting service.
After the service, the Kiddush is recited by the Rabbi or father/grandfather of the Bat Mitzvah girl. The family of the Bat Mitzvah girl then hosts either a dinner or dessert reception.
Havdalah Service:
The service can begin anywhere from one hour after Shabbat ends. The Bat Mitzvah girl welcomes everyone and speaks about the Havdalah ceremony. She honors close family members by having them participate in parts of the service. Havdalah is recited by the Rabbi or the girl's father or grandfather, etc. and the Bat Mitzvah girl recites special Saturday night prayers. The ceremony continues as described on page one. All guests are then invited to the reception. Separate seating is not necessary, unless you plan on doing the Arvit Service.
Sunday Morning or Evening Service:
A Sunday Bat Mitzvah takes place as described. The service can be followed by a brunch or a reception.