About the Service

The Tradition of Becoming Bar Mitzvah

The Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremony is a rite of passage in the Jewish tradition for boys and girls when they become 13 years old. By choosing to become Bar Mitzvah, Aaron is accepting responsibility to observe the commandments of the Torah and to live life consistent with the principals and beliefs of Judaism. 

Becoming a Bar Mitzvah is not a one-time experience that takes place only at the moment when one is called to the Torah. Rather, it is a gradual process of becoming a responsible young adult within the Jewish community at large. In preparation for this day, Aaron learned Hebrew, studied t'fillah (prayers), Jewish history, culture and tradition, and performed Mitzvot, the commandments of Jewish life, which includes acts of charity and social responsibility. The Bar Mitzvah ceremony is a culmination of an important rite of passage in the Jewish religion.

General Expectations

We know that many of our guests are not familiar with the service and our traditions. We hope that this information will help you feel more informed and comfortable attending the service. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Jonathan or Emily.

What to Wear

Guests at a bar mitzvah service generally dress like they're attending a daytime wedding or going to church. For men, either a suit or slacks, tie, and jacket, and for women, a dress or suit.

Outside the Sanctuary

You will be greeted by a family member acting as an usher and offered a program and a siddur (prayer book). You will also see a variety of ritual items on the tables, including:

• Kippot (Hebrew) / Yarmulkes (Yiddish) - Head coverings that can be worn by men or women if they choose to do so, whether they are Jewish or from another faith as a sign of respect, spirituality or prayerfulness. We will have custom-made keepsake Kippot/Yarmulkes for our guests.

• Tallit - Prayer shawls only worn by adults/teens who have had their bar/bat mitzvah on Shabbat and holiday mornings.

• Prayer books

If you have time, you can view the beautiful judaica on display in the hallway and lobby.

Inside the Sanctuary

The first row is reserved for family, but the rest of the seating is not reserved and you can sit anywhere. Aaron and another child will be having a joint ceremony, so there will be a second set of guests.

At the front of the sanctuary you will see these items:

• The Ark - the Ark houses the Torah scrolls on which are hand scribed the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (the old testament). The Ark in Temple Isaiah's sanctuary has beautiful wood carvings.

• The Ner Tamid - the eternal light is located above the Ark and remains lit as a sign of God's eternal relationship with humanity.

Maintaining Sanctity

Guests and participants are expected to respect the sanctity of the prayer service and Shabbat by:

• Arriving before the service.

• Turning off your cell phone in the sanctuary.

• Not taking pictures or videos.

• Though this is a joyous occasion, it is our practice to refrain from applause during the service.

Sitting and Standing

The service will be filled with directions to stand for particular prayers and sit for others. Take your cue from other worshipers or the Rabbi's instructions. Unlike kneeling in a Catholic worship service, which is a unique prayer posture filled with religious significance, standing and sitting in a Jewish service does not constitute any affirmation of religious belief, it is merely a sign of respect. There will be instructions to bow at certain parts of the service, and because a bow is a religiously significant act, feel free to remain standing or sitting as you wish at that point. 

A Guide to The Service

We welcome you to participate as much as you feel comfortable. English and Hebrew will be spoken and sung throughout the service.   You can follow the service in the prayer book called Mishkan T’filah (Tent of Prayer), which includes traditional prayers in Hebrew, English phonetic transliterations, literal translations, and interpretive readings based on traditional prayer themes. The prayer book opens from left to right because Hebrew is written from right to left. Avoid putting the prayer book on the floor. Rabbi Battis and Cantor Doob will guide us and let us know which pages we are on throughout the service.

The Morning Shabbat Service is Comprised of Four Parts

1. The Shema and Its Blessings

2. T'fillah (Prayer)

3. Torah Reading -  Aaron will read part of the weekly Torah parsha (portion),  Vayigash .  After, he will give a D'var Torah, a brief commentary he wrote reflecting on this week's parsha.

4. Blessings & Concluding Prayers