Shaare Torah A conservative shul in Gaithersburg MD

Shaare Torah Religious School

B'nai Mitzvah Policy

INTRODUCTION AND PROGRAM GOALS

The public celebration of bar/bat mitzvah will follow an intensive period of Jewish study for the student and will reflect his/her commitment to live a life as a Jewish adult.
The student's preparation and ceremony will be intellectually challenging and spiritually meaningful.
During a preparation period, each student will master basic Jewish skills and knowledge, enhance his or her commitment to religious practice and Jewish identity, act on the Jewish values he/she has learned through participation in g'milut hasadim (acts of loving-kindness) projects, and feel a part of the synagogue community.
The family of the bar/bat mitzvah will be afforded the opportunity to learn new skills and become familiar with the synagogue and its programs, including t'fillot -- worship services.
The synagogue members will form a close connection with the family of the bar/bat mitzvah so that we are all a "family" when the day of celebration arrives.
The synagogue will integrate day school and non-day school students in appropriate settings.
The student will see bar/bat mitzvah as the first opportunity to make a contribution to the Jewish community. For example, students will acquire skills which they will be able to contribute to the synagogue community after the ceremony (e.g. leading services, reading Torah and Haftorah, etc.) and they will be encouraged to do so.
Students will be encouraged to continue their formal Jewish education, to participate in synagogue-sponsored youth programs through middle and high school, and to plan for a trip to Israel during their high school years.

B'NAI MITZVAH COMMITTEE

A committee consisting of the Ritual Vice President (or his/her designee), the Education Vice President (or his/her designee), the Membership Vice President (or his/her designee), two at large members appointed by the committee chair and approved by the ritual committee, the rabbi, and the educational director will comprise a "B'nai Mitzvah Committee." This sub-committee of the ritual committee may also designate additional committee members as it deems apropriate. The Ritual Vice President (or his/her designee) will chair the committee.
Shaare Torah is committed to ensuring that individualized attention is given to every student and family's needs. The B'nai Mitzvah Committee will review and consider for approval, requests for exceptions to any of the policies discussed herein. The Committee will also work with families and the professional staff to ensure that students or family members with physical, mental, or learning disabilities are welcomed and accommodated.

III. EXPERIENCES LEADING TO BAR/BAT MITZVAH

Shaare Torah follows the educational standards set by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for education leading to bar/bat mitzvah. Bar/bat mitzvah preparation will include: formal study in a Jewish day school (grades 3-7); or 5 years of study in the Shaare Torah religious school (grades 3-7); or completion of an alternative program approved by the Education Committee pursuant to the Shaare Torah Religious School Alternative Study Policy.
In cases in which the student does not meet the above standard, the B'nai Mitzvah Committee will determine if the student has had equivalent educational experiences or experiences appropriate to their learning abilities.
The student will participate in meetings and activities designed specifically for bar/bat mitzvah students, such as special Shabbatonim, Sunday morning services (jointly with the religious school), and skills sessions. Parents will also be expected to attend these events when appropriate.
Students will engage in acts of g'milut hasadim (acts of kindness--community service work). Students will develop their own project and/or participate in opportunities which will be made available each year through synagogue programming (e.g., soup kitchens, nursing homes, etc.). Parents will be encouraged to participate in these experiences as well. The congregation will investigate the possibility that such work will fulfill public school community service requirements. Reference materials for this and other aspects of the bar/bat mitzvah experience will be made available to the family of the bar/bat mitzvah in the Shaare Torah B'nai Mitzvah Policy Handbook.
Students and parents are expected to attend at least 36 Shabbat services in the 18 month period leading up to bar/bat mitzvah (an average of 2 services per month). To ensure familiarity with our service format, and to help the congregation become acquainted with the student and his/her family, 24 of these services must be at Shaare Torah.
Parents will provide tutoring for their children on an individual basis in preparation for their participation in services to celebrate their becoming a bar/bat mitzvah. The family will meet with the rabbi approximately 12 months before the ceremony to determine an appropriate period of preparation (generally between 6 and 12 months). All tutors working with bar/bat mitzvah students must meet with the rabbi's approval. The rabbi and student will meet regularly to monitor progress, with weekly meetings as the bar/bat mitzvah ceremony approaches.
Students will be exposed to putting on tefillin and weekday prayer as part of their preparation for becoming a bar/bat mitzvah.

BAR/BAT MITZVAH CEREMONY

Every student will have an opportunity to celebrate becoming bar/bat mitzvah at a service conducted by the rabbi of the congregation.
The ceremony will take place on or after the child's 13^th birthday according to the Jewish calendar. Dates for the ceremony will be assigned approximately 3 years in advance, and will be approved by the B'nai Mitzvah Committee. The Committee will approve dates on an annual basis for all children of member families in the year in which they turn 10 years old. The Committee will make every effort to ensure that there is at least one Shabbat per month in which a bar/bat mitzvah ceremony is not scheduled.
Bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies will take place as part of the congregation's regular worship service. Such ceremonies will take place at the congregation's regular place of worship.
Since a bar/bat mitzvah ceremony is as much a communal event as it is a family event, and since Shabbat morning is the principal time at which the community gathers to worship, this is the preferred time for a bar/bat mitzvah ceremony. The rabbi and the family may determine together that a time other than Shabbat morning is more appropriate. Since the traditional mark of becoming a bar/bat mitzvah is to take an aliyah to the Torah, bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies shall be held at a service on which the Torah is read. The scheduling and location of such services will be approved by the B'nai Mitzvah Committee.
All students will take an aliyah to the Torah and prepare a d'var Torah (short talk). The rabbi will help each family create an appropriate plan for participation in the service. Students will be encouraged to maximize their educational experience throughout the preparation period as they learn Haftorah (including trope--cantillation notes), Torah reading (number of aliyot as appropriate, and including troupe) and skills in leading parts of the service. Family members will be encouraged to learn new skills and participate as much as possible in leading the services.
Families are encouraged to become involved in the service, subject to other policies established by the synagogue and the rabbi (e.g. participation by non-Jews in the service, content of additional readings, etc.).
For Shabbat services, at least 2 aliyot will be reserved for other life cycle or communal needs. If the B'nai Mitzvah committee determines that these are not needed, the family may assign these honors as well.
All b'nai mitzvah ceremonies must follow applicable congregation policies (i.e., Shabbat, Kashrut, and other religious practices).
The family is required to invite members of the congregation along with their guests to a congregational kiddush, which they will sponsor, immediately following the service. The congregation will extend room rental times to be approximately one hour past the end of services.
All food functions which immediately follow the service at which a ceremony is included, and which are held at the same location, must be in accordance with the kashrut policy of the synagogue. In keeping with the sanctity of these celebrations, families are encouraged to follow appropriate laws of Shabbat and kashrut (dietary laws) at all functions associated with the bar/bat mitzvah celebration.

OTHER STANDARDS

Families must be members in good standing of the synagogue in the fiscal year prior to the bar/bat mitzvah ceremony. Families must have been members of the congregation for the prior three years or they must make a commitment to three years of membership in the congregation.
Younger siblings in grades 3 and above who are eligible for religious school must be enrolled in the Shaare Torah religious school program, unless they are enrolled in day school or in an equivalent program, subject to approval by the B'nai Mitzvah Committee.
A fee to the synagogue is required of all b'nai mitzvah families. The amount and terms of the fee will be determined by the Board on an annual basis and communicated to the b'nai mitzvah families.

This policy was adopted by the Shaare Torah Board of Directors on August 13, 2001.