B’nai Mitzvah
Lisa Duncan Photography
Becoming B’nai Mitzvah is an exciting time in the lives of our members and the life of our community. When our students become B’nai Mitzvah, they are, in essence, saying that they are ready to take on the responsibilities of being a knowledgeable, responsible Jew. They are invited to lead the service, chant from the Torah and the Haftarah (the prophetic reading), and write and deliver a D’var Torah, a teaching from their Torah portion. This is truly a moment to celebrate. At Temple Isaiah, we revel in the fact that another young person has taken on our traditions and teachings for him/herself.
While the students receive the date of the B’nai Mitzvah service in 5th grade, their formal preparation begins approximately 7 months in advance. This preparation process is as meaningful an experience as the service itself. Our students study diligently for 6-7 months prior to their service with a B’nai Mitzvah tutor, studying principally their Torah and Haftarah portions. Students spend the last 6-8 weeks prior to their service studying with the rabbi and cantor. They will work with the rabbi, carefully studying their Torah portion, and will prepare a teaching to share with the congregation the morning of their service. They will work with the cantor on leading prayers and will practice in the sanctuary, chanting from the Torah scrolls.
We are a community blessed with an abundance of young people becoming B’nai Mitzvah. Often, two students become B’nai Mitzvah at the same Shabbat service. Our students feel a great sense of confidence and community as they share the bimah with a classmate. It is through these shared lifecycle events that Temple Isaiah is strengthened as a synagogue and as a community.
If you have other questions regarding the B’nai Mitzvah process, please contact Cantor Korn at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (925)283-8575.
- B'nai Mitzvah Parent Resources
B’nai Mitzvah Publicity Form
Please (as a parent or child) complete the B’nai Mitzvah publicity form for our Friday Shabbat Shalom email and Shabbat Announcements flyer distributed at services.
Service Form
This is an important form to fill out for the service of your child/children. Please review this example honor form, if there are siblings, our clergy assistant will provide another form to allow for more then 1 name.
B’nai Mitzvah Shabbat Service Form
Order of Service
Click here for the Virtual B’nai Mitzvah Order of Service.
- B'nai Mitzvah Kid Resources
Aliyah
Watch this short video with Cantor Korn to learn more.
Prayer Practice Audio Files
For English transliteration and streaming files that allow you to hear Temple Isaiah’s Cantor Leigh Korn chanting or speaking the prayers click here.
- Mitzvah Project
Potential Organizations for a Mitzvah Project
As part of becoming B’nai Mitzvah, each student is required to complete a Mitzvah Project. Inspired by our namesake – the prophet Isaiah – and other prophets, we believe that part of living a Jewish life is a commitment to care for and improve the community in which we live. A commitment to tikkun olam, repairing the world, is one facet of living a full Jewish life.
At Temple Isaiah, we ask that each student makes a meaningful commitment of time during the B’nai Mitzvah process to complete a project. There are no minimum or maximum hours, as each project is unique. We ask that you go beyond raising money and instead engage directly with the organization, community, or cause you are serving.
To help you get started we have compiled a list of organizations B’nai Mitzvah students have worked with in the past. You are welcome to work with organizations not listed below – we hope to provide this resource as a jumping off point for your project. If you have additional questions about your Mitzvah Project, please reach out to the rabbi who is working with you and your family as you prepare to become B’nai Mitzvah.
Click here to access the list of organizations