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 Dana Poncher, Bet Mitzvah Coordinator.
Quick links:
Bet Mitzvah Service Prayerbooks to share with Service Participants
*Note that your student has a special study version of these prayerbooks.
Wed, May 14 2025
16 Iyar 5785
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 14 , 2025Field Trip: Dressed in History
Wednesday, May 14th 9:15a to 3:00p
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 14 , 2025Drop-In
Wednesday, May 14th 3:15p to 4:15p
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 14 , 2025Hebrew School
Wednesday, May 14th 4:15p to 6:00p
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 14 , 2025AShTY
Wednesday, May 14th 6:00p to 8:00p
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 14 , 2025Intro to Judaism
Wednesday, May 14th 7:00p to 8:30p
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Thursday ,
MayMay 15 , 2025Aging Wisely Discussion Group
Thursday, May 15th 10:00a to 11:30a
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Thursday ,
MayMay 15 , 2025Koleinu Rehearsal
Thursday, May 15th 7:30p to 9:00p
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Friday ,
MayMay 16 , 2025Pack and Deliver Shabbat Bags
Friday, May 16th 9:00a to 9:30a
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Friday ,
MayMay 16 , 2025Family Shabbat Dinner & Teacher Appreciation
Friday, May 16th 5:30p to 7:00p
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Saturday ,
MayMay 17 , 2025Bat Mitzvah Lila Napchan
Shabbat, May 17th 9:00a to 10:30a

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