The minimum educational requirement for B/M is five (5) years of religious school training or its equivalent, at the discretion of the Rabbi and Hazzan/Director of Education, either at Kehillat Ma'arav or another Bureau of Jewish Education (B.J.E.) accredited educational institution.
Those students who are enrolled in the Hei class (7th grade), and have their ceremonies in the Fall, must continue Religious School through the Spring semester, otherwise they will not be able to participate in 7th grade graduation.
Students in the Gimel class (5th grade) will be responsible for learning the Torah service. Students in the Daled class (6th grade) will be responsible for learning the Musaf (additional) service. Students in the Hei class (7th grade) will be responsible for learning the Sh'ma and its blessings from Shacharit (morning service).
Completion of the Family Torah Project which asks each family in the 7th grade to make a presentation to the entire class such as a skit, videotape, or song that communicates a theme or themes of each child's specific Torah portion. The Rabbi and Hazzan will explain this project in detail during a B/M Orientation meeting.
The B/M is required to attend at least 80% of class sessions, whether held on Shabbat, Sunday, or Tuesday. Students who fail to complete this requirement will not be able to participate in 7th grade graduation. At least one parent will be required to attend each Shabbat service with their child.
7th Grade Program. The new 7th grade Shabbat/Sunday alternating program is designed to strongly encourage attendance at Shacharit morning services, both by our 7th grade students and at least one parent. Students and parents will have a chance to study with Rabbi Gotlieb from 9:30am - 10:15am, and will then join the congregation for the balance of the Shacharit service. On weekends when Shacharit participation is called for, there will be no class on the following Sunday morning.
SHABBAT SERVICES
In order to add to the holiness of Shabbat, picture taking, video-taping, tape-recording, etc., are not permitted on Shabbat, either during the service or after the service has concluded. This must be strictly observed. However, video-taping using a prearranged timer is available. Contact the synagogue office at office @ km-synagogue . org for further information.
Picture taking is available the week prior to the B/M (this can coincide with the rehearsal.) However, you must (1) reserve a date with the Rabbi and Hazzan three weeks prior to the actual date, and (2) Clear the date with the office three weeks prior to the actual date.
Kehillat Ma'arav is a congregation blessed with many Simchot (joyous occasions). We therefore anticipate that other celebrations and commemorations may occur during the same Shabbat as the B/M celebration. Other events, such as the recitation of a Birkat-Gomel for the recovery of an illness or accident, an aliyah commemorating a yahrzeit, celebrating a birthday or anniversary, and other such life cycle events, may be celebrated on the same Shabbat as a B/M. These events are not mutually exclusive of the B/M and in no way compete with, nor detract from, a B/M celebration.
The overall quality of a B/M ceremony in the minds of family members and guests is directly related to the youngster's achievements in preparation for the event, and unrelated to any other incidentals which may occur during the other portions of the service which do not involve the B/M child. The inclusion of other celebrations will in most instances not diminish the number of aliyah honors available to the B/M family.
In all cases regarding matters of precedent, procedure, and propriety at religious events held at Kehillat Ma'arav, Rabbi Gotlieb will make the final judgment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We strongly recommend and encourage B/M parties to be held if at all possible at an establishment with Kosher catering facilities. If this is not possible, we strongly recommend and urge that a fish or vegetarian meal be served to all your guests. This is in keeping with the traditional spirit of the occasion.
It is strongly recommended when sending out your invitations to include all of your child's classmates from the Hei class (7th grade). This helps to avoid embarrassment and helps to strengthen the bond of the students in the class.
The Education and Ritual Committees of the congregation again wish to stress the desirability of regular attendance at Saturday morning services throughout the years of religious school. It is hoped that this attendance both by parents and students will make the services more meaningful and generally enrich the religious experience of this occasion.
FEES
The $1100.00 Bar/Bat Mitzvah fee includes instruction and materials, the use of the Sanctuary for religious purposes and use of the facility to host a post-service Kiddush. This fee does not include any food or refreshments, paper goods, or other services as costs vary according to each family's needs.
In keeping with Kehillat Ma'arav tradition, each B/M family will host the congregational Kiddush following services. Please contact the office for specific information regarding our in-house caterer Baleboste, security, clean up, etc.
Each B/M family must be current in payment of all dues and fees, including pledges, when training begins.
DATES/TRAINING
Approximately eighteen months prior to the B/M, each family should set up a B/M date. The Rabbi and/or Hazzan are available to meet with the student and the parents at any time during the training period to clarify questions or difficulties that may arise. The Rabbi will meet with the B/M candidate approximately six weeks in advance of the event in preparation for the address (D'var Torah) to the congregation. The Rabbi encourages parental participation in the preparation for the address.
Portions of the Shabbat service, which include the Torah service, additional service, and various other blessings, prayers, including Tallit and Tefillin, are part of the curriculum in the upper grades of the Religious School.
Individual lessons begin approximately nine months prior to the B/M date. Scheduling of these lessons are at the discretion of the Hazzan. B/M lessons are taught individually, and the duration of each lesson is 25 minutes.
To facilitate B/M studies, a tape of the blessings, Haftorah and Torah readings will be prepared by the Hazzan for each student.
YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSISTENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD STUDY HABITS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND BENEFICIAL. Minimally, students should study for thirty minutes each day.
SERVICE PARTICIPATION
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah may conduct the following portions of the Saturday morning service:
Shacharit (morning service)
Seder Hotzeat Ha'Torah (Torah service)
Selected Hebrew readings in the Torah portion, incl. the Maftir
Blessing before the Haftorah
Haftorah
Blessings after the Haftorah
Musaf (Additional service)
Kiddush/Motzi
This program will be designed by the Hazzan and the student.
TORAH CEREMONY, Saturday morning. The parent(s) and the grandparents are invited to join the B/M prior to the opening of the Ark.
The Torah is removed from the Ark by a Gabbai who hands it to a grandparent. If both the maternal and paternal grandparents are present, the Torah is transferred first to the maternal grandparents then to the paternal grandparents who in turn hand it to the parent who then hands it to the B/M. The B/M holds the Torah and recites the prescribed prayers. After the procession, the B/M returns to his/her seat on the Bimah while the rest of the family returns to their seats in the congregation.
The Rabbi introduces the Torah portion.
Aliyot, Saturday morning. The designated honorees are called to the Torah to recite the blessings before and after the Torah in the following order: Kohen, Levi, Shlishee through Shevi'ee, Maftir (B/M).
Maftir. The Hazzan will call up the B/M by his or her Hebrew name, after which the B/M will recite the Maftir portion with the accompanying blessings.
Hagbah, lifting the Torah and Gelilah, binding the Torah.
The Rabbi introduces the Haftorah.
The B/M approaches the reading table and chants the blessings and Haftorah.
B/M delivers address (D'var Torah) to congregation and discusses Torah portion.
Rabbi addresses the B/M
Presentations to B/M from Rabbi, President of Congregation, and U.S.Y. representative.
Parent(s) may make brief, personal remarks (five minute duration).
Prayer for Peace, Prayer for Our Country, Ashrei, Torah returned to Ark.
Musaf (additional) service
ARK OPENINGS AND ALIYOT
Please use the Worksheet for Shabbat morning honors to indicate whom you have chosen to receive aliyot, ark openings, and other honors on Saturday morning. Copies of the completed list should be returned to the Rabbi or the office one week before your child's B/M date.
It is strongly recommended that you ascertain beforehand that those individuals being honored are able to recite the blessings. For your convenience, a copy of the Torah Blessings for before and after the Torah portion -- along with transliterations -- is provided below for you to print and give to those you wish to honor.
NOTES
Ark openings, Hagbah (Torah lifting), and Gelilah (Torah binding) do not require a Hebrew recitation. There are English readings available.
Kindly make every effort to limit the number of aliyot and other honors to those on the enclosed worksheet. Aliyot may be shared.
Husbands and wives are encouraged to take an Aliyah together.
Please notify the people you are honoring in advance and encourage them to be in their seats at 9:30am Saturday, when Shabbat services begin.
Decorum on the Bimah requires men being honored wear a kippah and a tallit. Please notify your guests in advance. Both tallitot and kipot are available in the rear of the sanctuary every Shabbat morning.
If candy is to be gently thrown after the reading of the Haftorah, please be sure to arrange the purchase of the candy through the synagogue office. Candy should only be passed out during the recitation of the Blessings After the Haftorah. There is a strict limit of eighteen (18) pieces of candy that can be *gently* thrown.
REHEARSAL
The Hazzan will arrange for a complete rehearsal for the B/M and the parents to take place during the week before the occasion.
If you wish the Rabbi and the Hazzan to be included in a photo session, this may be accomplished at the rehearsal. Be reminded that picture taking is not allowed during the Shabbat service.
The rehearsal should be arranged at least three weeks in advance of the B/M.
SEATING IN THE SANCTUARY
Members of the immediate family (parents and siblings) may sit in the front row in the center section, in front of the Rabbi's lectern (parents may also choose to sit on the Bimah). The B/M should sit on the Bimah during the entire service.
MAZON
B/M is a most precious occasion in the life-cycle of a Jewish family. We put forward much effort to insure that the occasion is observed with dignity and that the meaning of the ritual is not lost. Towards that end, we want to remind you about Mazon (a Jewish Response to Hunger and Food for local charities).
By contributing to Mazon, you will add much joy and meaning to your B/M celebration. Whatever the cost of your affair, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that the party itself has become a mitzvah. What greater way could there be to launch your new young adult into life than to make his or her coming of age an occasion for tzedakah?
We urge you to contribute to Mazon. If you would like to receive a Mazon brochure, please contact the office at office @ km-synagogue . org.
HOSTING THE ONEG SHABBAT & KIDDUSH
It is Kehillat Ma'arav's synagogue policy, as well as a wonderful privilege, for the B/M family to sponsor the Saturday morning congregational Kiddush. Details about cost are mentioned above under Fees, and can be further clarified by contacting the synagogue office.
If you wish to hold your B/M party at Kehillat Ma'arav, including luncheon buffet, sit-down luncheon, or evening reception, please contact our in-house caterer, Baleboste, directly at (818) 344-3417.
FLOWERS & DECORATIONS
Flower arrangements for the Bimah and /or the food tables can be purchased from a florist at your discretion. This is not mandatory but they do enhance the occasion.
If flowers, balloons or decorations will be delivered, please instruct vendors to do so before 12:00 Noon on Friday. Please give the office the name and telephone number of your florist (just in case the flowers are not delivered by noon). The office has the names of vendors it will recommend if you wish.
PRAYERS
TALIT BLESSING
Prior to the onset of the service, the B/M should recite the following blessing, and then, with the assistance of the Rabbi and/or Hazzan, wrap himself/herself in the tallit:
