Bat Mitzvah means 'Daughter of the Commandment'. For Reform Jews this means that girls (and boys) have their Bat (Bar) Mitzvah around the age of 12 or 13 years old.
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah are important milestones in a young person's life. Bar/Bat Mitzvah comes from the Hebrew word 'mitzvah', which means commandment. It represents a young person's obligation to follow Jewish laws and traditions.
Each Bar and Bat Mitzvah is different. Pearl will be leading some parts of the service as well as 'laining' (reading or chanting) a portion from the Torah. The service will be in English and Hebrew. Members of the family will also take part in some aspects of the service. The service will last 1-1.5 hours. You will be given a small bag of sweets to throw at Pearl once she has finished reading and has received her blessings. This tradition symbolizes the beginning of a sweet life as an adult.
If you have children who need entertaining in this time, feel free to bring quiet/non-electronic activities such as books, magazines or small play items. You are also welcome to bring snacks but they must be vegetarian.
After you have entered the Synagogue, you will come into the foyer area. There is a coat rack and bathroom with the main sanctuary straight ahead. You are welcome to take a prayer book which is both in English and Hebrew. There will be kippah provided for men and boys to wear. Please put this on before you enter the main sanctuary. You can sit anywhere you feel comfortable.
There will be no photographs or video taken when the service has started.
This is entirely up to you. Please feel free to read along with the English parts of the service or just listen. There will be lots of standing and sitting at different points. Just follow the lead of the Rabbi or other community members.
As it is a special occasion, our clothes will be reflective of this for the service at Synagogue.
You will see that Jewish men and some women, wear a tallit which is a prayer shawl. This forms part of the act of prayer in the synagogue.
All men and boys are required to wear a kippah when in the sanctuary, Unlike the tallit, the wearing of a kippah does not signify religious observance rather it is a show of respect. There will be a kippah available in the foyer before you enter the main sanctuary. You can keep your kippah as a memento of the weekend,
For the evening party, we will be dressed to dance! You may wish to change or not - It is up to you!
Absolutely! There will be a light buffet after the service in the synagogue. Before you eat, please wait until the blessings over wine and bread are made. You will be offered a small glass of kiddush wine or grape juice and piece of challah (bread). The Rabbi will make the blessings and then please help yourself to food,
At the evening party, there will be plenty to eat and drink!