Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a milestone on the journey of lifelong Jewish education. There are five components to Bar/Bat Mitzvah training:

• Prayer and blessings in preparation for the Director of Lifelong Learning and the Cantor's classes
• Fluency in prayers, blessings and Haftarah in the Cantor's class
• Meetings with the B'nai Mitzvah tutor
• Meetings with Rabbi Zlotnick to review the Torah portion, D'var Torah (Torah speech/sermon) and mitzvah project
• Rehearsal sessions

In perparation for becoming a Bar/Bat mitzvah at Temple Beth Or, students will receive special training from the Rabbi and Cantor, in addition to attending regular religious school classes.  Students who wish to celebrate becoming a bar/bat mitzvah must be in "good standing" in our religious school.  Students must be continuously enrolled and have successfully completed each year since third grade.

In extenuating circumstances, a student who dores not have four previous years of Hebrew may make alternative tutoring arrangements to learn Hebrew.  These students must pass a Hebrew proficiency exam. This alternative will only be made available in extenuating circumstances.  A committee consisting of the Rabbi, Cantor, Director of Lifelong Learning and a representative from the B'nai Mitzvah committee will evaluate entrance into the Bar/Bat Mitzvah program.

Should a child become Bar/Bat Mitzvah in eighth grade, he or she must be enrolled in BARJ - our community high school program.

Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a life cycle event that will be scheduled 3 years in advance by the B'nai Mitzvah committee chairperson.

Please refer to the Temple Beth Or Bar/Bat Mitzvah Manual, available in the main office for more information.

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