Bnai Mitzvah Program

Becoming B'nai Mitzvah Today

Today, we recognize that children 13 years of age have not yet reached the age of full spiritual maturity or responsibility. Becoming b'nai mitzvah is considered to be a major step toward adulthood. The ceremony marks the moment when teenagers will be expected to make more decisions on their own and assume greater personal responsibility and accountability for their actions. The ceremony also provides an added incentive for continued religious education. The Posner JEM Religious School curriculum at Har Sinai Oheb Shalom Congregation is designed to prepare the b'nai mitzvah candidate for a fulfilling experience within a Reform Jewish framework while maintaining the highest standards. The b'nai mitzvah ceremony provides an opportunity for the b'nai mitzvah candidate to demonstrate some of what they have learned at Har Sinai Oheb Shalom Congregation as well as what they have learned about life. 

Glossary

• Aliyah (plural, aliyot) — Literally, “going up.” The ascent to the bimah to say the blessings over the Torah scroll. 
• Amidah — Literally, the “standing” prayer. The nineteen prayers (seven on Shabbat and festivals) that constitute the main body of Jewish liturgy; also known as t’filah and the shemoneh esrei. 
• Bimah — The raised platform or pulpit in most synagogues where the service is conducted. 
• Chavurah (plural, chavurot) — An independent, participant-led Jewish fellowship group; or, a semi-independent study or prayer group within a synagogue. 
• Chumash (from chameish, “five”) — The Pentateuch (Five Books of Moses), or a book containing the Pentateuch. 
• Haftarah — Literally, “completion.” The reading of the section from the Prophets for a particular Shabbat. 
• Halachah —Jewish law. 
• Havdalah — Literally, “separation,” “distinction.” The ceremony that ends Shabbat. 
• Hazzan — The cantor, also known as the shaliach tzibur, the community prayer leader. 
• Kashrut — The Jewish dietary laws. 
• Kiddush — The prayer accompanied by wine or grape juice and recited before dinner on the eve of the Sabbath or a festival, to inaugurate the day and proclaim its sanctity; also, the food and wine that is customarily served in the synagogue after morning services on the Sabbath or festival. 
• Kosher — Food that may be eaten, according to the Jewish dietary laws. 
• Maariv — Evening prayer service. 
• Mincha — Afternoon prayer service. 
• Mitzvah (plural, mitzvot) — An obligation of Jewish life. 
• Musaf — The “additional” prayer in traditional liturgy. Recalls the ancient sacrificial rites of the Temple (the musaf or additional sacrifices) and repeats some themes covered earlier in the liturgy. 
• Parasha — The Torah portion of the week. Also sometimes referred to as the sedra. 
• Shabbat — The Sabbath. 
• Sh’ma — A central prayer of the worship service. Essentially a statement of faith which is derived from Deuteronomy, Chapter 6: “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” 
• Shul — The Yiddish word for “synagogue.” 
• Simcha — “A joyous event.” Often used to refer to a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony, or other celebrations. 
• Tallit — A prayer shawl. 
• T’filah — The major section of Jewish liturgy, also known as the Amidah (standing prayer). The generic term for Jewish worship. 
• Torah — Literally, “teaching” or “direction.” Narrowly, the first part of the Hebrew Bible that is read from the scroll; broadly, all Jewish sacred literature and by implication, all of Judaism. 
• Tzedakah — The mitzvah of sacred giving. 
• Yad — The thin pointer shaped at the end like a hand, which a reader of Torah uses so as not to lose his/her place.