TIMETABLE FOR THE BAR AND BAT MITZVAH EXPERIENCE
· In the Winter of kitah dalet (fourth grade), we will assign Bar & Bat Mitzvah dates.
· Beginning in kitah vav (the sixth grade) and continuing through kitah zayin (the seventh grade), we devote 30 minutes weekly during Religious School hours to teaching portions of the service.
· About two years before your simhah, the rabbi, cantor, principal, ritual chairpeople and administration will discuss Bar and Bat Mitzvah procedures and answer questions at an annual meeting devoted to that end.
· Five to six months before the ceremony, the child begins private lessons.
· To become familiar with the procedures of our service, we ask that you attend a minimum of three Shabbat morning services prior to the Bar and Bat Mitzvah—the more, the better.
· Boys must put on tefillin and tallit, which are to be purchased in advance. As an egalitarian synagogue, we encourage girls to wear tallit as well. Beautiful women’s talliyot are readily available on the Internet and at local Jewish book stores and gift shops.
· At least three weeks before the simhah, the family meets with a Ritual Committee representative to discuss the distribution of honors.
· Some time just prior to the simhah, the family meets with the Rabbi to review the ceremony in detail.
· The family attends the Friday night service prior to the simhah, at which time the Bar and Bat Mitzvah recites the kiddush.
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Updated July 12, 2006 
