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Bar & Bat Mitzvah
Synagogue Service: Proper Etiquette
A Conservative Perspective
by Rivka C. Berman
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Proper etiquette for attending a Bar Mitzvah or a Bat Mitzvah ceremony in a synagogue includes proper attire, and general respect for your
surrounding.
Please be sure to dress appropriately, which should
consist of casual or formal wear (considerate of hosts' request) that are
fashioned modestly. Avoid plunging necklines or short dresses. Men should dress
in accordance with host's suggestions, from casual to formal wear, and wear a kippa (a
yarmulkah, which will be furnished by
the synagogue if necessary).
Observance of the Sabbath
The observance of the Shabbat laws vary from one conservative synagogue to
another, some being more strict, others less so. In general, driving to
synagogue is accepted and parking should not be an issue.
Cell phones should be shut off until you leave the synagogue. If you are a
doctor on call, leave your phone on vibrator, and when called leave the
sanctuary and step outside the synagogue to answer your calls. Like other
institutions, smoking is never permitted at a synagogue.
Seating
In general, guests may sit wherever they wish in the synagogue. Most
conservative synagogues are "co-ed" and both men and women partake in the
various rites and rituals.
Some seats may be reserved for the bar or bat mitzvah family. Synagogue members may
wish to sit in “their” seat. Respect that. It’s unbecoming and disruptive to
hassle (and not worth it). An “oops, excuse me” should be enough to smooth
things over.
Arriving and Leaving
People arrive at different times throughout the service. In an ideal world,
everyone would arrive a bit before services began, settle in and wait for the
rabbi to start. I have yet to see a congregation of idealists. Generally
everyone who is going to be there will be at the synagogue before the Torah
service. Try to arrive on the early side because some temples have a policy to
keep people out during the Torah reading, only opening the doors in between
aliyot. During the sermon, the doors might be locked. All these rules are in
place to keep disturbances to a minimum.
If you must leave the synagogue during services, do so quietly. Close your
siddur, prayer book. Place it on your seat or in the siddur stand by your seat.
Some people honor the prayer book by touching the siddur and kissing their hands
after closing the cover. Laying a siddur on the floor is considered
disrespectful. Try not to leave during the Torah service or during the sermon.
Given the innumerable variables that go into prayer services it’s hard to say
how long each service will last. Ask your host.
Movement During Prayer
Bowing is traditional at certain points in the service. A Jewish prayer bow
begins with a slight bending of the knees and a little bow from the waist as the
legs are straightened. Rocking or swaying helps some people concentrate on their
prayers. Souls are likened to flames, and during prayer souls are stirred like
flames in a breeze.
Talking During the Service
“If you come to services to talk, where do you go to pray?” One synagogue
had this posted on a sign at its entrance. A pointed question for a persistent
problem.
It’s a challenge, but don’t converse during services. Just as you wouldn’t
interrupt a conversation with a CEO to answer a telephone call, don’t chat
during prayers to God.
Living up to this ideal is difficult because people want to offer their
congratulations, greet guests, say “hello.” Try nodding. Wave discreetly. Yes,
other people will be talking, but it’s better to do what is right.
What to Say
After services, greet the bar mitzvah boy who read the Torah with the words “Ya-sher ko-ach,” a
phrase that means “may your strength increase” and is used as a general way of
saying “good job.” Or congratulate a bat or bar mitzvah with “mazal tov,” a
general wish meaning “[you should have] good luck.”
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