The essence of this holy moment is that this child is stepping through a spiritual gateway toward Jewish adulthood. The celebrant is proclaiming his or her identity as a Jew, a participating member in our community. It is a moment that celebrates and sanctifies the future. We honor this young Jewish adult proudly taking the torch that has been passed down through the generations for thousands of years and marching confidently with it into a new unfolding world.

God bless the parents of our students who have devotedly worked for and believed in Jewish identity and education, who have nourished these children with love and support, who have given rise to a new light to shine upon Israel. Reward their sacred labor with abundant blessings. Amen.

Requirements

Bar/Bat Mitzvah in not the end to formal education. It is however, an important milestone in a student's Jewish Life and is significant in his/her lifelong development of Jewish identity. The family plays a crucial role in this development also. The following procedure explains how a family prepares for the experience of Bar/Bat Mitzvah within our congregation. It is understood that the honors accorded to a family at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah are earned in complete fulfillment of these requirements.

• The student must complete 4 consecutive years of regular attendance in Religious School. Years of attendance in another Religious or Hebrew School of a recognized Congregation will be accepted for the purpose of meeting this requirement upon suitable verification. The student must be registered and attending Religious School classes at the time of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
• Students in Grades 6 and 7 must be attending class regularly. A student who is absent more than 1/4 of the school year will require a tutor, at the family's expense, as well as make up assignments. Excessive absences and the resulting lag in learning may result in a postponement of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
• It is expected that each student will make a commitment to continue his/her education at Temple Isaiah through Confirmation, the ceremony of Jewish Affirmation held on Shavuot upon completion of the 10th grade.
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah dates are usually scheduled 2 years in advance of the student's 13th birthday. Parents will receive a list of possible dates to choose from and will be requested to select three dates. We will do our best to assign you one of your three choices.
• One year prior to the date, the student and his /her family will attend a series of three Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Workshops.
• Six months prior to the date, students and their parents begin the formal Bar/Bat Mitzvah training with a meeting with the Cantor in order to review the procedure, ask questions and discuss the significance of this special event. During this period, the family will be required to attend a number of Shabbat services here at Temple Isaiah. The student will be required to complete a mitzvah project.
• The student will meet with a tutor on a weekly basis to review prayers, Torah and Haftorah portions until 8 weeks prior to the date. At this point, the student will begin his/her studies with the Cantor to complete final preparations.
• Students will meet with a rabbi on a weekly basis, beginning 8 weeks prior to the date, to study the Torah and Haftorah portions and to prepare a speech.