Bar or Bat Mitzvah

Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is one of the most meaningful experiences in the life of a Jewish child and family. At Congregation Shaare Emeth, we are dedicated to helping to make this experience very special and full of joy for you and your family. The more you and your family invest in the process, the more rewarding it will be. Our goal is for each Bar or Bat Mitzvah to feel proud of his or her accomplishments and proud to be a part of the congregation and the Jewish community.  Congregation Shaare Emeth’s B’nei Mitzvah program is designed to help us reach these goals.

In Jewish tradition, Torah means “teaching” or “knowledge.” We expect each student to attain the basic knowledge about Judaism, Hebrew, and Torah that we feel is essential to becoming a Jewish adult. Each Bar and Bat Mitzvah student will:

1. Attend Religious School.

2. Make a commitment to continue his or her religious education at least through Confirmation in Tenth grade.

3. Engage in the B’nei Mitzvah study process with the Cantor and the Rabbis.

Worship and Prayer are building blocks of Jewish life. At Shaare Emeth, we celebrate each child becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah as part of a communal worship service. We want our students to become comfortable with personal prayer and with public worship. Each Bar or Bat Mitzvah will:

1. Lead our Congregation in worship on Shabbat morning.

2. Participate in Friday evening Shabbat Worship on the Friday preceding the Bar or Bat Mitzvah. 
3. Experience Shabbat at Congregation Shaare Emeth regularly. 

In order to become a Jewish adult, we believe each person must develop a commitment to tzedakah, social justice and gemilut chasadim, acts of loving kindness. Each Bar and Bat Mitzvah student will:

1. Complete an individual tzedakah project of his or her choosing. We guide you and help you make this important choice.

2. Consider other acts of Tzedakah in honor of this occasion.

The Congregation Shaare Emeth B’nei Mitzvah process is but one important milestone in the life of our students and your family. This is also a time of celebration and coming together of our Shaare Emeth community. We are a flexible and accommodating community that wants to help you and your family mark this day with meaning and memory. As each family is unique, so, too, is each Bar or Bat Mitzvah service. We strive to make this experience a personal one filled with growth, inspiration, learning and community.

If you have questions about the B’nei Mitzvah process at Shaare Emeth, please call
Cantor Seth Warner, (314) 569-0010.