Bar/Bat Mitzvah
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah (7th grade) class meets on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm.
On Saturday mornings, at 9:30 am, they attend Shabbat services, chaperoned by a teacher.
Once a month, the class leads the Saturday morning service, when parents are expected to join their children. On weekends, the class may attend special programs on Sundays instead of Saturdays.
The B. Mitzvah class prepares students to lead Shabbat services and feel part of the synagogue community. Additionally, students prepare to take a series of tests consisting of 100 basic Hebrew words and concepts.
During the B. Mitzvah year, students are expected to perform at least 13 hours of community "Mitzvah" work. Field trips such as: Passover shopping, a visit to the Mikvah, Kaddish at New Haven's Holocaust Monument and the Jewish Pantry make this year a very meaningful one.
In the course of the year, the students begin to discuss the significance of the Holocaust.
Policy
In order for a child to celebrate a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Or Shalom, he/she must have completed or be on track to complete his/her Jewish elementary education in the religious school at Congregation Or Shalom or a recognized religious school. Exceptions to this policy will be made for children enrolled in an approved Jewish day school, for medical reasons, or at the discretion of the Rabbi. This policy is adopted as of Wednesday, August 26, 2009.
