MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICE

What is a Bar Mitzvah? 

What will the Saturday morning service be like?

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Some of you haven't been to a bar or bat mitzvah before. Maybe you have never been in a synagogue before! But that's ok. At my bar mitzvah, we will talk you through the service to make things easier for you to know what is going on.  Here is a some information for you if you are curious.  When a Jewish child turns 13, he or she is officially a bar mitzvah ("son of the commandments") or bat mitzvah ("daughter of the commandments") and is old enough to perform the mitzvot (the commandments of Jewish life). When a Jewish child becomes a bar or bat Mitzvah, he or she publicly reads a section (parshat in Hebrew) from the Torah, which is the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).  In Hebrew the Five Books of Moses are called: Breishit, Shmot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, and Devarim.  

Each week, every congregation in the Jewish world reads the same passage from the Torah. In this way we are linked to the entire Jewish people, regardless of where we live. My bar mitzvah is on April 5, 2025.  In the Hebrew calendar it is on the 7th day of Nisan in the year 5785. I will be reading from Parashat Vayikra when I am called to the Torah. Rabbi Danielle Parmenter and Hazzan Arlyne Unger will be leading the Saturday morning service.  I will assist the clergy in leading many prayers and will present a d’var Torah, my thoughts on the meaning of my Torah portion. 

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Words & Traditions

TORAH: The Torah scroll is hand-written on parchment by a trained scribe. It contains the Five Books of Moses. The scroll is read in its entirety over the course of the Hebrew year, with specific portions corresponding to each calendar week.: This is where the Torah scrolls are kept and is the holiest place in the synagogue.

ARK: The ark is only opened during special prayers and when the Torah is removed and returned. We all stand when the ark is open.

BIMAH: In most synagogues the bimah is a raised platform situated at the front of the sanctuary, near the ark, where Torah is read and services are delivered.  At our synagogue the bimah is signified by a podium, but it is not raised up so that it can be accessible to all.

ALIYOT (HONORS): At the start of each section of the Torah reading some of my family members will be called to the bimah to recite a blessing before and after the Torah reading.

HAGBAH (RAISING OF THE TORAH): After the Torah readings everyone will stand and the Torah will be held up high with its words facing the congregation so that we may all experience the Holy text.

GELILAH (DRESSING OF THE TORAH): My cousins will tie a sash around the Torah to keep it closed and will dress it with a velvet cover and crowns.

HAFTARAH: A reading from the Prophets that has a thematic connection to the Torah portion. My Haftarah portion is Isash 43:21-44:23.

KIDDUSH: This means sanctification and is a blessing recited over the wine to sanctify the Sabbath.

KIPPAH (YAMAKAH in Yiddish): A kippah is a head covering that is worn during the prayer service as a sign of respect and reverence for God. Kippot made in honor of my bar mitzvah will be available at the entrance to the sanctuary. Just as men and women may be asked to remove their hats in church, or remove their shoes before entering a mosque, wearing a head covering is a non-denominational act of showing respect.  We request that men and boys wear kippot, and women and girls are also welcome to wear them.  

SIDDUR (PRAYER BOOK): The prayer book is written in both English and Hebrew and includes Hebrew transliterations. Since Hebrew is read from right to left, the prayer book opens accordingly.

TALLIT (PRAYER SHAWL): A tallit is worn to symbolically represent wrapping oneself in God’s loving presence. In each of the four corners are strings tied in a pattern, called tzitzit, which represent the 613 mitzvot described in the Torah.  My parents will present me with my first tallit at my bar mitzvah service. 

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About My Synagogue 

Mission Statement: Darchei Noam is an enlightened community rooted in both Jewish tradition and spiritual innovation. At Darchei Noam you will be seen, heard, and valued for exactly who you are without judgment, expectation, or hierarchy. We are a welcoming and loving community that celebrates Jews and their allies from all walks of life irrespective of gender expression, race, ethnicity, exceptionality, disability, sexual orientation, family make-up, economic background or Jewish identity.  We strive to put our Jewish values into practice through cultivating hesed (loving-kindness), tzedek (social justice), and rachamim (compassion) in the world around us.