Mazel Tov!

The time of a child's coming of age is one of the most meaningful experiences in a family's Jewish life. The Beth Shalom community has structured our training program to be top notch and to ensure your child an engaging, spirited learning environment.  To that end, there are several, equally critical elements of our program that your child will participate in during Bar/Bat Mitzvah training.  In addition to continuing his or her learning at Religious School or a day school, your child will attend Prozdor, receive one-on-one tutoring, supervision by our Bar/Bat Mitzvah Coordinator and work directly with Rabbi Borodin. In this packet you will find explanations of these program components, along with associated costs. 

In order to proceed with a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, please recall that your household must be current on all synagogue financial responsibilities, including membership dues, sustaining fund or capital campaign obligations, Religious School and/or Prozdor tuition, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah fees.  This requirement safeguards the sustainability of our program and we thank you in advance for honoring it.

We greatly look forward to taking this journey with you.  Please do not hesitate to ask questions and request our help as you prepare for this exciting milestone.

With Whom will I work:

There are numerous key players who are here to help in planning your child’s B’nai Mitzvah: 

Michele Stern - Bar/Bat Mitzvah Coordinator (BMC)

Michele will work with you on all aspects of planning the service and preparation.

Kris Klippel - Lifecycle Coordinator krisklippel AT bethshalomseattle.org or 206-524-0075

Kris will work with you on planning your Kiddush, establishing your payment plan, finalizing your honors and many other event logistics.

 A trained student tutor

A trained tutor will coach your child in trope and ensure that he or she is comfortable with the service.

Rabbi Borodin

The Rabbi will work with your child on his or her D'var Torah and have meetings with you to gauge progress.

Instruction of B’nai Mitzvah at Beth Shalom: Important meetings and Deadlines: 

Meetings with the B'nai Mitzvah Coordinator

Two Year group meeting with B'nai Mitzvah Coordinator

                    Giving out dates for 6^th grade Family Minyan

One Year Meeting with B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator

Assess Hebrew reading skills

Determine the ceremony format

Arrange for Tutor

Establishing a payment plan

Four Month Meeting with the B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator

Evaluate progress

Hand out Honor/Aliyah form and discuss how to complete

Set up appointment for Two Month Meeting

Two Month Meeting with the B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator

Last evaluation of skills

Answer questions about ceremony/rehearsals/etc

Set dates for rehearsals

Rehearsals with the B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator

Two weeks and last week before the ceremony 

Meetings with Rabbi

One Year Group Meeting with Rabbi

Four Month Meeting with Rabbi

Preparation for Writing the D'var Torah

Final Family Meeting with the Rabbi within a month of the Ceremony

Family shares written material with each other