Bar/Bat Mitzvah Prep Timeline
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BAR/BAT MITZVAH TIMELINE AND CHECKLIST
If you have questions about your event, please feel free to speak with the Executive Director, the Education Office, the Hazzan or the Rabbis.
2 - 3 YEARS BEFORE THE 13TH BIRTHDAY:
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Chairperson, in consultation with the Senior Rabbi, assigns a date for your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Make sure that your child is enrolled for Jewish education at a Jewish Day School or Talmud Torah.
3 YEARS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE (The start of the school year):
18 MONTHS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
1 YEAR TO 9 MONTHS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
8 TO 10 MONTHS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
4 TO 6 MONTHS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
3 MONTHS BEFORE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
8 WEEKS BEFORE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
5 WEEKS BEFORE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
4 WEEKS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
3 WEEKS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
2 WEEKS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
THE WEEK OF THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH!!
THE FRIDAY OF:
If you have questions about your event, please feel free to speak with the Executive Director, the Education Office, the Hazzan or the Rabbis.
2 - 3 YEARS BEFORE THE 13TH BIRTHDAY:
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Chairperson, in consultation with the Senior Rabbi, assigns a date for your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Make sure that your child is enrolled for Jewish education at a Jewish Day School or Talmud Torah.
3 YEARS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE (The start of the school year):
- Start your child’s participation in our Shabbat Morning Program by registering them.
- Begin parent participation in Seasons of the Jewish Family parents and other adult education programs.
- Take advantage of the Hebrew classes, liturgy classes and Torah Reading classes offered by the Adath so you can fully participate in your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah service.
18 MONTHS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- Continued regular attendance at SMP and Talmud Torah or the Jewish Day School for instruction.
- If you are considering ordering or making a needlepoint kippah or a hand-woven Tallit for your child, this is a good time to start the preparation.
- Make sure you have reserved the synagogue for any social function that will take place there.
1 YEAR TO 9 MONTHS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- Start thinking about all the social arrangements you may want. Some of the different options could: a caterer, a band, decorations, a photographer (still and/or video) and other options. Contact the Catering Director and the Executive Director to let them know what functions you plan to have at the synagogue. Contact hotels for out-of-town guests and begin looking for invitations.
8 TO 10 MONTHS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Coordinator will meet with your family to develop a learning plan for your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation.
4 TO 6 MONTHS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- Start to organize your guest list.
- Arrangements for out of town guests can be looked into at this point. Depending on the time of year, you may need the lead-time. Make arrangements for Shomer Shabbat guests.
- Consider the kind of invitations you will use. Allow 4 to 6 weeks to order printed invitations.
- Finalize social details at this point such as menus, centerpieces, and paper goods.
3 MONTHS BEFORE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- Send a picture of your child to _Andrea? Darlene? Dorit?__ in the Adath office for publicity (and the Clarion!?)
8 WEEKS BEFORE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- Start addressing invitations. The invitations for out of town guests should go out this week.
- Meet with one of the Rabbis for your child to start working on the D’var Torah. Get the Honors Sheet from the Rabbis’ Assistant. Be sure that family and friends are capable of carrying out the honors that you assign them and understand their obligations. (e.g. head covering for men and women on the Bimah, tallit for men and encouraged for women, Hagbaah - lifting the Torah should be given to someone capable of lifting it, time to arrive, etc.) If you have non-Jewish family members or friends you would like to honor, please contact one of the Rabbis to discuss appropriate ways that they can participate in the Service.
- Periodic individual meetings with the Hazzan start.
5 WEEKS BEFORE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- If you want to prepare a letter to your non-Jewish guests, please ask Risa Kessler for some sample letters.
- Parents can meet with the Rabbis’ Associate for help on their parent talk if they wish.
4 WEEKS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- Finalize all the social details (phone all those who have not returned a RSVP, firm up all the decisions, make arrangements for transportation of the out-of-towners - map to synagogue or hotel if need be etc.).
3 WEEKS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- Set up rehearsal time with the Hazzan. Some people use this opportunity to have a photographer take formal pictures, since this will be the only chance you have to take any pictures of the ceremony in the sanctuary.
- Contact the Rabbis’ Assistant to see if there are factors that could affect attendance (baby naming, anniversary blessing, and auf ruf).
- Aliyah forms should be given to Rabbis’ Assistant.
2 WEEKS BEFORE THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DATE:
- If you wish, send a written note and a clear picture of your child to the American Jewish World. It must arrive at least 10 days before the issue. It can be mailed with your name and phone number to 4509 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416. There is a $10 charge for this notice. You must include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like the picture returned. If you would just like a written notice about your child there is no charge.
- Order the Kosher wine that you need and arrange to bring it to the Adath on the Friday of your Bar/Bat Mitzvah before 3:00pm (It should be marked with your name).
THE WEEK OF THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH!!
- Review final details for Shabbat with one of the clergy and submit parents' talk to Rabbis’ Assistant.
- Bar/Bat Mitzvah and parent’s rehearsal with Hazzan.
- Notify our Facilities Facilities Manager, 952.215.3911, if you would like a CD for a fee of $50.
- Bring your handouts to the Synagogue office by Monday morning.
THE FRIDAY OF:
- Deliver wine, baked goods, kippot, etc. to the Synagogue before 3:00pm.