Bar Mitzvah Guide for Guests on Zoom

The meaning of Bar and Bat Mitzvah

Upon reaching the age of thirteen, a Jewish boy becomes a bar mitzvah  and a Jewish girl becomes a bat mitzvah. B’nei mitzvah are considered adults within the Jewish community, responsible for fulfilling all the ethical and religious obligations of Jewish life.  We acknowledge this milestone by extending to the bar/bat mitzvah the honor of reciting the blessings over the Torah for the first time, and the privilege of co-leading our Shabbat worship. They will chant Torah and haftarah and offer a lesson (d’var) about their Torah reading.

By the age of bar/bat mitzvah, students at CBS have attended religious school for several years.  In addition to reading Hebrew, they have learned about the Jewish calendar, life cycle, history, ethics and Tanach (the Jewish Bible). They have learned to chant their Torah and haftarah readings and fulfilled mitzvot, Jewish sacred obligations, in the areas of study (torah), worship (avodah), and good deeds (gemilut chasadim). They are prepared for a life of continued learning, mitzvot, and active involvement in the Jewish community.

The Shabbat Service

After an introductory section of morning blessings that express gratitude for waking up to a new day, psalms and songs of praise, the service consists of four main parts:

· The Sh’ma and Its Blessings, which reflect on our relationship with God through the themes of creation, revelation and redemption

· The Amidah (Standing), or T’filah (Prayer). Its’ Shabbat themes include heritage, God’s power and holiness, the holiness of Shabbat, thanksgiving and peace

· The Torah Service, including Torah and haftarah readings

· Concluding prayers: Aleinu and the Mourners’ Kaddish.

During the Torah service, the bar/bat mitzvah will present a d’var Torah - a lesson derived from the week’s section of Torah. They will then chant their Torah reading from a photograph of their verses taken from our congregation’s Torah scroll. You will be able to follow along on screen with that same photo.

Being an active part of the congregation on Zoom

The Rabbi will be managing the Zoom room. The prayer service will be shared on screen with all texts in Hebrew and transliteration, along with English translations and readings.

Prayer is about our thoughts and intentions. When we come together as a community, we feel the energy of the larger group. We ask you to be the congregation when you join us on Zoom. When the rabbi shares the screen, please sing along and participate in the service as much as you feel comfortable, even when you are muted.

For more guidance on using Zoom and Zoom etiquette, click here.

Kippot and Tallitot

A Tallit is a prayer shawl with 4 special fringes on the corners that are reminders to live an ethical life. It is traditionally worn during morning prayer services. A Kippah (also known in Yiddish as a Yamulke) is a head covering that represents our awareness of a Greater power above us. In Reform congregations, it is optional to wear these in prayer. If it is your practice to wear these on a Shabbat morning and you have them at home, please do wear them for this service.

Maintaining Sanctity

We ask that all guests respect the sanctity of Shabbat by setting your phones and other devices to vibrate. Be prepared to be online for the full service and not get up from your video. If must leave, please turn off your video and turn it back on when you return. The rabbi will mute everyone most of the time, but at times will invite individuals to unmute. Please be sure when unmuted, not to have extraneous noise in the background that may be distracting to others.

Sitting and Standing: Standing in a Jewish service does not constitute an affirmation of religious belief; it is merely a sign of respect. We invite you to stand with the congregation if you are able, when it is indicated during the service.