Rabbi Elliot Salo Schoenberg    
Hazzan ​​​​​Sheldon Levin​

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planning Checklist

Three years to go:

_____ Attend initial Parent’s Meeting with Rabbi, Hazzan and other staff. You will receive protocols and other informational materials.

_____ Return Bar/Bat Date Confirmation to synagogue office.  If there is a need to change date contact office.

_____  Reserve the Synagogue for your reception

 

Two years to go:

_____ Begin attending Shabbat morning services, Family service and your child attend Jr. Congregation so you will become familiar with the service and part of the community. Check links for information about bar/bat mitzvah. If you need help with some Hebrew terms you may need to know click Glossary of Hebrew Terms. 

_____ A list of people including the Rabbi, Hazzan, Office Manager, Gift Shop and Ritual Committee include names, emails and phone. Feel free to communicate with them as often as you wish.

 

Eighteen / twelve months to go:

_____  Let out-of-town guests know the date of your event.

_____  Arrange catering, venues and other party needs. Party planning ideas are available online.

_____  Book photographers, videographers, and entertainment for reception (if applicable)

_____ Begin Mitzvah / Tzedakkah Project and Ideas

 

Eight months to go:

_____  Contact office to reserve Kiddush or luncheon rooms

_____  Select or create invitations

_____ Order Tallit, Tefillin and personalized Kippot (available in the Gift Shop).

_____ Reserve lodging for out of town guests.

 

Six to Eight months to go:

_____ Begin studying with the Hazzan and Tutor (depending on season and vacation schedules) you will be contacted by the Hazzan with available lesson times.

_____ Your child will receive Bar/Bat Mitzvah study materials (Trop , Prayers ) and recording.  Please send a three ring binder to the first lesson.

_____ Attend the bar/bat mitzvah clinics with the Rabbi, you will receive an email invitation.

_____ Begin shopping for outfits.

 

Six months to go:

_____ Submit names of Shabbat Kiddush sponsors to the office  and pay for Kiddush . The standard

Kiddush fee and enhancements must be paid 6 months prior to the bar/bat mitzvah.  

_____ Mitzvah Honor Society will be explained in Hebrew School. Fill in form as these are completed.

 

Four months to go:

_____ Contact Hazzan if members of your family or friends wish to chant Torah .

____ Order or print invitations (Invitations should be mailed ten weeks prior to the simcha). Directions and maps may be included. 

____ Unless otherwise notified, the starting time on the invitation should list the actual time the

service begins: 9:30 am on Shabbat morning. It is appropriate to list the Hebrew date as well as the English one.

 

Ten to Twelve weeks to go:

_____ Begin preparation of a D’var Torah . The Rabbi and Hazzan will give materials. Additional Torah commentaries can be found online.

_____ Complete your Mitzvah Project and discuss it with the Rabbi.

_____  E-mail your child’s digital photo and biography for bulletin article

_____ Order a plaque for the simcha wall of the synagogue if you wish.

 

Eight to Ten weeks to go:

_____Mail invitations; include directions and decorum pages (decorum guidelines are attached to the directions)

_____Begin preparation of Bar/Bat Mitzvah Shabbat Program Handout

 

Six/eight weeks to go:

_____ Arrange date for photography to be taken with office (can be scheduled on same day as final rehearsal)

_____ Work with your caterer, DJ and florist on party menus, music and decorations

 

Four/six weeks to go:

_____ Email Dvar Torah to Rabbi for approval (Dvar Torah Guidelines)

_____  Help anyone having a Torah honor correctly chant the blessings. A video can help or transliterated page printed.

____ Contact honorees to ask them to participate and get their Hebrew names

____Arrange for transportation for out of town guests and children who may need it for the party

____Make welcome packets for out of town hotel guests. Include directions, schedule of events, etc.

____Have final fittings for clothing and make hair and manicure appointments.

____ Write any speeches, candle ceremonies or other party presentations

 

Two weeks to go:

_____ Schedule family meeting with Rabbi for bar/bat mitzvah child and parents) for the rabbi to get to know the bar/bat mitzvah child, to discuss the service, answer any questions.

_____ Make party seating arrangements and have place cards prepared

_____ Certificate of Insurance from caterer, DJ or other vendors must be given to office

_____ Give florists, caterer final table numbers

 

One week to go:

_____ Bring list of those having honors to the meeting with the Rabbi

_____ Attend final rehearsal with child and parents on Friday morning before the event at 10am, unless otherwise arranged for a different mutually convenient day and time (and with photographer if arranged). Notify Rabbi/Cantor’s office if you would like the rabbi and cantor to be in your photographs. at the rehearsal parents will practice the Torah blessing , the Sheptaranee and Shehecheynu prayers.

• Families often have arranged for their photographer to be at the final/dress rehearsal. Posed

photos should be scheduled to be taken after the actual rehearsal.

_____Please dress appropriately for entering the Sanctuary and remember to bring your Tallit to the

rehearsal.

_____Drop off Kippot, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Programs and any other items for the service (if applicable) at the synagogue office. The synagogue closes at 2 pm on Fridays. Please do not bring these with you to the synagogue on Shabbat.

 

The “Big” Weekend ….Mazal Tov!

Friday Evening: Attend Shabbat Service (6:30pm unless there is a guest speaker or Community Dinner when the service will be 7:30pm) and recite the Kiddush .

 

Shabbat Morning:

 _____Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family should be at the synagogue before the 9:30am service starts

 

 Have a wonderful simcha.

 

Afterwards

_____ Check out after bar/bat  mitzvah information