Today is:  
kasher,kosher,kashrut,kosher supervision,kosher directo


 



 

     
     

KOSHER BY DESIGN

Amazing New Kosher
Cookbook. BUY

 

 Home > Bar Mitzvah Guide > Reform > Services and Rituals at Synagogue

Search The Jewish Directory

 Bar Mitzvah Services and Ritual Ceremonies at Synagogue
Reform Perspective by Rivka C. Berman

Which Service is Appropriate for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah
If you haven’t done the advance work, don’t panic. Just about any service is appropriate for a bar mitzvah. Saturday mornings is the most common choice. Friday night, when the Torah is read as well, is another time. Saturday afternoon is traditional time for Torah reading. Some congregations will schedule an afternoon bat mitzvah close to the end of Shabbat when a havdalah service can be held. Havdalah bar mitzvahs perturb some rabbis because reading the Torah so late in the evening is not the normal reading time. Reading the Torah outside of a service could turn the practice into a show instead of a part of worship.

Although many Reform congregations are limited to Shabbat and holiday services, the Torah is traditionally read on Monday and Thursday mornings too. Special Torah readings are set for Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of each Jewish month, all of Chanukah, Passover, Sukkot, and Shavuout. Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur feature Torah readings, but synagogues don’t generally permit bnei mitzvah celebrations during High Holiday services.

In some congregations, a bat mitzvah celebrant will read a short version of her portion on Friday night (to practice) and the whole shebang on Saturday morning. Another time to get in some reading is to read the haftarah, a weekly reading from the Prophets, at the Friday night service. (It is traditionally read at the Shabbat morning service.)
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even if participation is limited during the service, the party’s menu and structure can reflect whatever ethnic heritage and traditions you desire.

Hagba – Raising the Torah
After the reading is finished, the Torah is lifted in a ritual called “hagba,” meaning “to elevate”  Hagba requires strength. The 20 lb. Torah hoisted with three columns of text showing. When the Torah is aloft, many congregations will say, “This is the Torah which Moses set before the Children of Israel, according to God’s word as given to Moses.”

G’lilah – Tying the Torah
A special binder is used to wrap the Torah scroll. In some communities a Torah tie, known as a wimple, was created from a newborn’s swaddling blanket and embroidered with the baby’s name and birth date. The was wimple personalized for the baby, used at the bar mitzvah service, and stored in the synagogue as a sort of membership archive.

Haftorah – A Reading from the Prophets
Following the Torah reading, the haftorah will be chanted. This short portion is a selection from the prophet’s writings. (There are 19 books of prophetic writings in the Jewish Bible. Twelve of the minor prophetic accounts, like Jonah, are gathered into one book. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel are some of the major volumes.) Haftarot has some connection to a theme from the Torah reading. It’s interesting to speculate what the link is.

Reading the haftarah is somewhat easier than the Torah. For one thing, the Hebrew words of the haftarah have vowels and are generally printed in book form, instead of the large-format, multi-column Torah scroll layout. Furthermore, the haftarah’s traditional tune is more sing-song and less varied than the Torah trop.

Jews began the haftarah tradition around 200 C.E. Some say it was begun in response to despotic bans on Torah reading. Or the custom may have begun as a sort of sermon on the Torah portion that was just read.
 

  Click Here to Search For Bar & Bat Mitzvah Service



 

 

READ MORE:
Why are the Bat and Bar Mitzvah Celebrated at Ages Twelve and Thirteen
Confirmation vs. Bar and Bat Mitzvah
Reform Teens: The Confirmation Ceremony
Evolution of the Bar Mitzvah over the years
Is a formal celebration of a Bar MItzvah or Bat MItzvah required by Jewish law?
Setting Date, Selecting Venue for the Celebration of a Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah Services and Ceremonial Rituals at the Synagogue
Getting Ready for the Bar Mitzvah - The Tallit: Prayer Shawl
What a Bar and Bat Mitzvah Need to Know
Getting Ready for the Bar Mitzvah - Reading Hebrew & Torah Reading
Preparation for the Bar Mitzvah Celebrations: Ideas and Alternatives
Beyond Party Plans: Meaningful Projects for the Bar and Bat Mitzvah
The Bar and Bat Mitzvah Service: Instructional Booklets and Schedules
The Bar Mitzvah: Roles for Parents
Memorial Prayers during the Bar and Bat Mitzvah Celebrations
Videography and Photography during Bar Mitzvah Services at the Synagogue
Bar Mitzvah boy and Bat Mitzvah Girl of Divorced Parents.  What to do?
"Honors" during Torah Reading at Synagogue Bar Mitzvah Services
Synagogue Etiquette: What to Wear, How to Conduct Oneself

Party with a Jewish Flavor: Jewish Food, Jewish Music, Jewish Dance, and more
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Speeches
Candle Lighting Ceremonies
Charity and Good Deeds: The Bar Mitzvah opportunity for doing something good!


Hebrew for Kids


ADVERTISE HERE
 · Wedding Gifts
  · Bar Mitzvah Gifts
  ·
Baby Gifts
  · Jewish Books at Great Prices
 

 


Mazor Guides: Wealth of Information and Resources
- Mazor Guide - The Ultimate Guide to Living Jewish -
- Guide to Jewish Holidays -
- Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Guide -
- Guide to a Jewish Wedding -
- Guide to Jewish Celebrations -
- Guide to Kosher Living
- Infertility and Judaism: A Guide
- The Get (Gett) - the Jewish Divorce: A Guide
- Zei Gezunt: Jewish Perspective on Health -
- Jewish Genetic Diseases -
- Death and Mourning in Judaism

Copyright 1998-2024 MazorNet, Inc.

Other Mazornet, Inc. Websites
http://www.MazorGuide.com | http://www.MazorBooks.com