Bar/Bat Mitzvah

When a child moves from childhood to young adulthood, Jewish tradition has us stop so that we might both celebrate and affirm that covenantal connection first made when the boy/girl was born. This is why a child who enters young adulthood is called either a “Bar or Bat Mitzvah” – one who is a “son/daughter of deeds that are holy.” It is a joyful time that is celebrated both in the sanctuary and beyond.

During our services at Temple Beth Shalom, our children share in leading the service, chant from the Torah, chant a portion from the books of Prophets (a “Haftarah”), and share a Torah teaching (“D’var Torah”) that they have prepared that is intended to make our ancient text speak to our lives today. Our services are filled with music, prayer, blessing, and joy.

At TBS we love working with all of our B’nei Mitzvah kids and their families. Our kids work with all of our rabbis, their tutors, and their teachers to prepare for a truly special day. All of us share in a wonderful partnership – working together to ensure two things: First, that the entire Bar/Bat Mitzvah journey (from the time when a date is selected up to the day of the service/celebration itself) is as meaningful as possible. And second, that this moment of Jewish affirmation/celebration is indelibly linked to a lifelong love for being Jewish.

Our Bar/Bat Mitzvah program is coordinated by Rabbi Michele Lenke, Temple Beth Shalom’s Renaissance Rabbi-Educator. If you have any questions about the journey towards becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah at TBS, please feel free to contact either Rabbi Lenke (rabbilenke@tbsneedham.org) or Rabbi Perlman (jperlman@tbsneedham.org).