The Bat Mitzvah
Mitzvah is Hebrew for “commandment”, and refers to the rules set forth from the Torah that guide Jewish life. A Bat Mitzvah is a coming of age ceremony for Jewish girls when they reach the age of 13. At this age, they are considered old enough to take responsibility for their own moral decisions and spiritual values. The Bat Mitzvah is a culmination of intense study, personal reflection, and giving back to the community. Eliana has worked very hard to prepare for this day, and we are so proud of her focus and dedication.
The Service
The Saturday afternoon service is divided into several parts. When you enter the chapel, you will be given a siddur (prayer book). This is the primary book used during the service. Eliana and the Rabbi will call pages throughout the service. There will be times that Eliana is leading prayers, times we will read together or responsively, and times we will pray silently. Our Shabbat Service includes prayers in English and Hebrew. We welcome you to participate as much as you feel comfortable.
The Shema (Hebrew word for ‘hear’) and its blessings. This central prayer is an affirmation of the core tenets of Judaism and declares our faith in one G-d.
Tefilah (Hebrew word for ‘prayer’). This part of the service evokes connection to our ancestors, giving thanks, and finding peace.
Torah Service The pinnacle of the service is the reading of the Torah. The Torah is a parchment scroll and contains the five books of the Old Testament. Each week, Jewish people around the world read the same portion. The Torah portion for the week of Eliana's bat mitzvah is Ki Teitzei from the Book of Deuteronomy (the final Book of the Torah/Old Testament).
The Torah scroll will be removed from the Ark and passed to Eliana from her parents and maternal grandparents, symbolizing the passing of Jewish knowledge, tradition, and responsibility from generation to generation.
Eliana will read from the Torah for the first time at her bat mitzvah. Following the Torah reading, she will share a D’var Torah, a brief commentary reflecting on the Torah reading.
As sections of the Torah are read, family members and friends will be honored with an aliyah (the Hebrew word for “going up”) where they will read the blessings before and after each section.
Concluding Prayers Family and friends will offer blessings to Eliana. The service concludes with several prayers; Aleinu, a prayer emphasizing the idea of G-d being universal, the Mourner's Kaddish, a remembrance to loved ones who have passed away, and Shehecheyanu, a blessing of gratitude and appreciation for this day.
Before we leave the sanctuary, we will recite two more blessings. The Kiddush (the blessing over wine) which declares the sanctity of Shabbat and the Motzi (the blessing before a meal).