Bnai Mitzvah - Stephen Wise Temple

Bar and Bat Mitzvah at Stephen Wise Temple

A Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony marks an important step in the spiritual and communal development of a Jewish child. The ritual, which typically takes place at 13, challenges Jewish children to examine the ways in which Judaism can shape their lives by engaging in acts of worship, Torah study, and Tikkun Olam (Changing the World), opening their eyes to the possibilities of lives filled with Jewish community, Jewish learning, and Jewish living.

The Journey

The B’nai Mitzvah Journey begins the year you turn 10, looking ahead to the day you will turn 13 and become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, by choosing a date to stand on the bima. Throughout the next few years leading up to the actual service, you and your family will attend family learning sessions and informational meetings with other families going through the B’nai Mitzvah process, and personal family meetings with the Rabbi officiating the service.

Training and Study

Seven months prior to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, students begin weekly meetings with their mentor. The mentor will call and arrange a time for weekly meetings. The student will meet with his/her mentor each week for 25 minutes. During these meetings, which continue until the Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, the student will prepare all blessings, prayers, Torah, Haftarah, and English readings.

Celebrate in Israel

If you are considering have a ceremony in Israel instead of, or in addition to, your celebration at Wise, please let us know. We can help you coordinate with clergy, mentors, anything you need to make your experience meaningful.

Educational Requirements

It is Temple policy that your child must be continually enrolled in a Stephen Wise Temple Jewish Educational Program through the grade 7 year in order to secure the Bar/Bat Mitzvah date at Wise. Program options are as follows:

Grades 4-6:
Wise School
Wise Religious School

Grade 7:
Wise Temple Youth on Sundays

Continuing the Celebration

We are a one stop shop for all your B’nai Mitzvah celebration needs! If you are interested in having any type of reception (Kiddush lunch, brunch, afternoon or evening reception), Wise Events offers new and exciting catering options with a wide selection of styles, pricing, and service to ensure your event at is exactly what you have dreamed of!

Tikkun Olam Project

This is an opportunity for you to do something special in their lives, for their own benefit and for the sake of those around them. By fulfilling the Tikkun Olam Project, a child will be preparing to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah by actively making Tikkun Olam an important part of life. We ask that each child commit to 15-20 hours for their Tikkun Olam Project, that way they can create a meaningful connection to the work they are doing and are able to tie their experience to their Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience. For compelling ideas on how you can change the world, please see our Tikkun Olam page, or email Ashley Marx for guidance.

Resources

Throughout the Bar/Bat Mitzvah process, you may wish to return here for easy access to the many resources we provide to help prepare you and your family for a meaningful and exciting Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration.

Questions: [email protected]