B’nai Mitzvah Commitment Agreement
Becoming B'nai Mitzvah is a significant and long-awaited milestone. It is, therefore, meant to be a process that is exciting, accessible, and appropriately challenging. For many students, it is the first time they are given such a large and long-term responsibility. We hope that our students and their families will feel a great deal of achievement throughout and at the conclusion of the formal B'nai Mitzvah process. We want nothing more than for each student to exude confidence with everything they're saying, chanting, and speaking from the bimah.
The Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom Congregation Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies:
1. B'nai Mitzvah is a privilege that accompanies membership in a congregational community. Accordingly, B'nai Mitzvah families are expected to have been members of our congregation or another congregation for three years prior to the B'nai Mitzvah date.
2. B'nai Mitzvah candidates must be enrolled and in good standing in the Posner JEM Religious School or its equivalent (such as a Jewish day school) at the time of the life cycle event.
3. B'nai Mitzvah candidates must complete a minimum of three years of Religious School or its equivalent through their B'nai Mitzvah, as determined by the Senior Rabbi, to be eligible for B’nai Mitzvah.
4. All Religious School fees, B'nai Mitzvah fees, and congregational dues must be current prior to commencement of B'nai Mitzvah training. Membership dues must remain current, or the B'nai Mitzvah ceremony will not be permitted to take place.
5. Each student is required to fulfill a Mitzvah Project (community service, tzedakah, and/or good deeds). The Mitzvah Project will be determined in consultation with the clergy approximately eight months prior to the B'nai Mitzvah Service.
Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom Congregation is committed to lifelong Jewish learning. For this reason, we strive to ensure that every B'nai Mitzvah student continues their formal and informal Jewish education at least until the end of the 10th grade (Confirmation) and continues their involvement in the congregation and broader Jewish community throughout their lives.
Financial Commitment
In order to have a child enter training to become B'nai Mitzvah, the family must be a member in good standing at Har Sinai - Oheb Shalom Congregation, up to and including the membership year in which the event takes place. Our Board of Trustees has passed a ruling that lifecycle events cannot be performed for members who owe money from either a prior year or the current year of the event, including the current school tuition, facility use fees, and any other additional feels that have been assessed.
Failure to maintain an account in good financial standing may result in the surrender of the date, interruption of B’nai Mitzvah instruction, and cancelation of facilities reservations. All charges are payable upon billing unless a special payment schedule is approved and confirmed in writing by the synagogue's Executive Director. Questions or concerns should be directed to David Harrison (dharrison@hsosc-baltimore.org).
B'nai Mitzvah Fee: Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom Congregation assesses your membership account with a B’nai Mitzvah fee that is determined on an annual basis. Communication will be shared prior to the charge being added to your account. This fee covers all materials (prayerbook, Torah & Haftarah Portions Booklet, etc.), the cost of weekly private instruction with your tutor, and meetings & rehearsals with our clergy.
Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom Congregation is strongly committed to Jewish education – the ability to pay will not be an obstacle for your child becoming B'nai Mitzvah. Do not hesitate to discuss this matter with our Executive Director.
For more information about specific fees, contact our Executive Director, David Harrison (dharrison@hsosc-baltimore.org).
