bat mitzvah

Suggestions for adding social action to this rite of passage.

Mitzvah projects are often part of the bar/bat mitzvah observance .

What to expect and how to behave at a bar/bat mitzvah service.

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.