Evergreen

The defining moment of the ceremony is the child's first aliyah, but children may also play additional roles in the service.

Interfaith families should ask the rabbi about synagogue policies and honestly examine both parents' attachments to Judaism.

Divorced parents must rise above their own differences and make the day special for the child.

Parents, educators, rabbis and student must work as a team to adjust the ceremony to the student's learning style and capabilities.

Practical aspects of bar bat mitzvah

Creating a tallit (prayer shawl) or designing a bar/bat mitzvah invitation can add a meaningful personal dimension to the celebration.

For a traditional family, the appropriate date for a bar/bat mitzvah is the Shabbat on or following the child's birthday, but for a liberal family, selecting a date can be more complicated.

Confirmation changed the requirements for Jewish "adulthood" by moving the focus from religious practice to doctrine.

Who we invite to a simcha (celebration) reflects our sense of family identity.

Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan's daughter's modest break with patriarchal traditions created new religious options for Jewish women.