Bet Mitzvah @ Am Shalom
Bet Mitzvah
The age of 13, in Jewish tradition, is the age of religious responsibility. The term Bar (for a boy) and Bat (for a girl) Mitzvah means "son or daughter of the commandment," in essence stating that this young person is now ready to take on the responsibilities of observing and caring for their Jewish identity. To demonstrate this readiness, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah student is invited to lead a prayer service, chant from the Torah and the Haftarah, and write and deliver a D'var Torah, a lesson from their Torah portion. Our students are also asked to engage in several acts of tikkun olam, repair of the world, through volunteer or project-based work. There are three primary goals of Bet Mitzvah at Am Shalom: lifelong learning, prayer, and acts of loving-kindness. It is truly a milestone to celebrate along the path of Jewish life and learning.
Our students typically receive the date of their Bet Mitzvah service in the spring of fourth grade, but the formal preparations begin about 18 months in advance with a family class. The preparation for the Bet Mitzvah service is intended to be a meaningful part of the entire process. Students study diligently with their individual tutors and the cantor to learn their Torah and Haftarah portions and prayers. In addition, they will meet with one or more of our rabbis to prepare their D'var Torah, a teaching that they will share with the congregation on the day of their service.
For more information about our Bet Mitzvah dates, or about our tutoring and learning process, please contact Rabbi Phyllis Sommer.
Quick links:
Bet Mitzvah Service Prayerbooks to share with Service Participants
*Note that your student has a special study version of these prayerbooks.
Sat, July 27 2024
21 Tammuz 5784
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Tuesday ,
JulJuly 30 , 2024Women's Connections
Tuesday, Jul 30th 10:00a to 11:00a
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Wednesday ,
JulJuly 31 , 2024ASYA Event
Wednesday, Jul 31st 7:00p to 10:00p
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Friday ,
AugAugust 2 , 2024Shabbat at the Pool
Friday, Aug 2nd 5:15p to 6:15p
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Thursday ,
AugAugust 8 , 2024Midsummer Night's Dream Concert 2024
Thursday, Aug 8th 7:00p to 8:30p
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Monday ,
AugAugust 12 , 2024Jewish College Students: Preparing for Jewish Life on Campus in Challenging Times (at NSCI)
Monday, Aug 12th 6:30p to 9:00p
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Monday ,
AugAugust 12 , 2024Finance Committee Meeting - ZOOM
Monday, Aug 12th 7:00p to 9:00p
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Thursday ,
AugAugust 15 , 2024Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 15th 2:00p to 3:00p
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Friday ,
AugAugust 16 , 2024Pack and Deliver Shabbat Bags
Friday, Aug 16th 9:00a to 9:30a
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Sunday ,
AugAugust 18 , 2024Fanchon Simons' Feeding the Hungry
Sunday, Aug 18th 9:00a to 10:00a
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Monday ,
AugAugust 19 , 2024Tu B'Av Couples Night Out at the Garden
Monday, Aug 19th 6:00p to 7:30p