What to Expect

At the service

The service will start promptly at 9:30AM. Please arrive on time to find your seat. Alex will help lead the service with the Rabbi and Hazzan (Cantor). He has spent a long time preparing for this day!

The service will be in both English and Hebrew. You will be offered a siddur (Jewish prayer book) that is read right to left.

Men and boys are asked to cover their heads with a kippah. Wearing a kippah shows respect to God and the sacredness of the worship space. We will provide kippot for all guests - women and girls are welcome to wear kippot as well. You can keep the kippah as a small memento of Alex's bar mitzvah service.

Cell phones and cameras cannot be used inside the synagogue during Shabbat (sundown on Friday evening to sundown on Saturday evening). Please make sure that your phone is silenced and refrain from taking any photos while in the synagogue.

If you need a break (we know that it is hard to pay attention for two hours!), you may leave the sanctuary and take a quiet break in the lobby.

At the reception

When the service ends we will go directly from the synagogue to the William Penn Inn to celebrate Alex and his accomplishments!

Please park in the back parking lot and enter the William Penn Inn through the banquet entrance off of Sumneytown Pike.

We will provide a school bus and a licensed bus driver to transport the kids from Darchei Noam to the reception venue. There will be a buffet lunch for children and a sit-down meal for the adults.

Get ready to have fun on the dance floor! There will be a DJ leading dancing and games and other entertainment.

The party will end at 4:00PM, at which time parents can pick up their kids at the banquet entrance to the William Penn Inn.

Suggested attire

Suggestions for adults: party attire/cocktail attire

Suggestions for boys: dress pants or khaki pants, collared shirt, suit, tie is optional, sneakers or dress shoes

Suggestions for girls: a dress, dress pants and blouse, skirt and blouse, sneakers or dress shoes

Additional notes: It is a sign of respect to cover your shoulders while in the synagogue. A shawl, sweater, or wrap would be excellent choices.