Dear Parent/s,
Mazal Tov on the Bat Mitzvah of your dear daughter! Bat Mitzvah marks a very important milestone, a fundamental shift in life: The transition from young girl to responsible young adult. So, a Bat Mitzvah shouldn't just be a party; it's too important. A Bat Mitzvah needs a soul. Such an experience deserves a pivotal place in life's rhythm and a powerful sense of meaning. The young celebrant should certainly feel a sense of relevance and connectedness to this auspicious threshold in her life.
We want your daughter to take pride in her Jewish identity. We want her to feel anticipation, eager to take her place as a full-fledged member of the Jewish nation. We want her to recognize her integral part in our beautiful traditions and rich heritage. We want to inspire a sense of responsibility to herself, to her fellow human beings and, above all, to G‑d.
To make this day a most memorable one for you and your family, we want to share the following information about the Bat Mitzvah itself and the preparation leading up to it.
Mazel Tov! Your daughter is growing up, and she'll be celebrating the biggest event of her adolescent life: Her Bat Mitzvah.
The Ceremony
Your daughter’s ceremony includes:
- Hebrew and English Torah readings
- A speech, with reflections on the meaning of this important milestone, her path in reaching it, etc.
- A representation of the Mitzvah Project that your daughter worked on over the course of her Bat Mitzvah preparation.
- The rabbi’s explanation of the process, ceremony and respective readings
- As per your guidance, we call on family-members and friends for readings and/or personal reflections.
- A handout will be prepared for all the guests containing all the above readings and some additional prayers. The handout generally contains a personalized message/s from the family. If you like, you can also design your own cover.
- The parents (and grandparents if you choose) bless the Bat Mitzvah girl. They will also convey the continuity of tradition with a 'Judaic bestowal', e.g Shabbat candlestick, etc.
- A candy throw, in which we shower the Bat Mitzvah with sweetness.
The Bat Mitzvah Preparation
Rather than focus on a ‘Bat Mitzvah product’, or just the ‘special day’, we emphasize the ‘process’ of maturation, responsibility and Jewish identity through giving your daughter an enriched experience that will last a lifetime. Therefore, the big day should not be isolated, but be part of a deep and clear understanding of how this will impact and provide meaning to her life. Our goal is to reinforce her Jewish identity so that she will always be proud of her Jewish heritage.
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When you are ready to begin planning your daughter’s bat mitzvah (we recommend 1 year prior to the service) please contact Rabbi Korer at Chabad to set up a preliminary meeting. The primary objective of this first meeting is to get to know each other and for you to share your vision of the Bat Mitzvah journey. Rabbi Korer will facilitate this discussion with you and your daughter. We will also choose a date and discuss the possibilities for the ceremony and readings for the event.
Preparations will include:
- Bat Mitzvah Lessons
- Mitzvah Project
- Logistics and Planning
- Rehearsal
- Kiddush
For more information and to schedule a meeting please call us at 845 225 4770 or email us at [email protected] or Click here to contact us