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Welcome from Bar/Bat Mitzvah Committee To Our Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Welcome to the wonderful journey ahead of you! We hope that, as your prepare for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah, your entire family will be caught up in both the learning experience and the spirituality that will emerge from your efforts. Then you and your family will be truly ready for a very special day in your lives. You will be sharing this experience also with your congregational family as you lead them in prayer. When you began your Jewish studies, you probably thought that a mitzvah was only some kind of good deed, like helping an old person across the street. In fact, a mitzvah is much more: It is a commandment, a responsibility that we have as human beings, and especially as Jews, to help proclaim God’s presence in the world and also to help bring significance to our lives. When you become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, you become “a Son or Daughter of the Commandment.” We hope your and your family will participate in as many of the mitzvot of our tradition as possible. Here are a few examples of mitzvot: * Observance of Shabbat each week * Observance of major festivals as they occur (Sukkot, Pesach, Shavuot) * Participation in High Holy Day experiences (fasting on Yom Kippur, if you can) * The ongoing study of Torah – participation in religious school through to confirmation and, hopefully, into your adult life * Tzedakah – bringing money to religious school each week, giving food for the poor, and volunteering to help others * Participating in a Minyan service in someone’s home following the death of a loved one * Honoring parents and teachers, especially those who have made it possible for you to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah * Visiting the sick and showing compassion for the unfortunate * Internalizing the special spiritual connection you are making at this time and carrying that through to your life as an adult, and passing that on to your own children down the road. We wish you a hearty MAZAL TOV as you prepare for your exciting journey. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Committe |
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