Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremony

Convocation

Welcome family and friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate and rejoice the Bat- Mitzvah of Bar/Bat Hamitzvah
What you are all about to witness here today is truly a celebration of an amazing life cycle event! Bar/Bat Hamitzvah’s Bat Mitzvah!
What is the meaning of: Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah?
Bar is ben son of the commandments.
Bat is Daughter of the commandments.
This is a special day because Bar/Bat Hamitzvah is old enough to carry the mitzvot and to make her own decisions in life and to learn from it.
There is a midrash (which is an imaginative story based on the bible) which says:
“every person has three names; the one chosen by her parents, the one that others call her, and the one he acquires for herself”.
As a child, Bar/Bat Hamitzvah was given the Hebrew name: Bracha Tori
By his/her parents.

Optional – Rabbi reads the Hebrew and Bar/Bat mitzvah will read in English

הִנְנִי עוֹמֶדֶת בְּמָקוֹם זֶה הַיּוֹם
כְּדֵי לְהָעִיד וְלוֹמַר בְּקוֹל צָלוּל וּבָרוּר
שֶׁאֲנִי בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל.
Here I stand in this place today
to witness and to announce in a deep and clear voice
that I am a son/ daughter of Israel.

עָלִיתִי לַתּוֹרָה
כְּדֵי לְהִתְחַבֵּר לְדוֹרוֹת שֶׁל בָּנוֹת וּבָנִים,
אִמָּהוֹת וְאָבוֹת,
סַבְתוֹת וְסָבִים,
אֲשֶׁר קָרְאוּ בְּסֵפֶר זֶה,
פֵּרְשׁוּ אֶת מִלּוֹתָיו
וְרָאוּ בּוֹ עַמּוּד אֵשׁ
הַמֵּאִיר אֶת דַּרְכָּם מֵהֶעָבָר אַל הַהֹוֶה
וּמֵהַהֹוֶה לְעָתִיד

I came up to the Torah today
to connect with the generations of boys and girls,
mothers and fathers,
grandmothers and grandfathers,
that read from this book,
interpreted its words,
and saw within it the pillar of fire
that lit the passageway from the past to the present
and from the present to the future.

קְרִיאָתִי בְּסֵפֶר
מְחַזֶּקֶת אֶת הַקֶּשֶׁר
בֵּינִי לְבֵין מִשְׁפַּחְתִּי,
בֵּינִי לְבֵין חֲבֵרִי וַחֲבֵרוֹתַי,
בֵּינִי לְבֵין עַמִּי וְאַרְצִי.

My reading in this book
strengthens my connection
between myself and my family,
my friends,
and the people of my nation and country.

מְקַבֶּלֶת אֲנִי בְּאַהֲבָה
אֶת הִשְׁתַּיְכוּתִי לְמָסֹרֶת שֶׁל תּוֹרָה עַתִּיקַת יוֹמִין בָּהּ
יֵשׁ לַהֲגוֹת יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה.
I receive with love
my portion in the ancient daily tradition of the Torah,
to recite it day and night.

אֲנִי תְּקַוֶּה שֶׁאוּכַל לַהֲפֹךְ בָּהּ וְלַהֲפֹךְ בָּהּ,
לְהַתְווֹת לְעַצְמִי דַּרְכֵי חַיִּים בְּאֶמְצָעוּתָהּ
לְחַפֵּשׂ בָּהּ נְתִיבוֹת לְחָכְמָה וּלְאַהֲבָה
וּלְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהּ לְטוֹבַת הַכְּלָל

I hope that I will be able to turn over and over in her,[2]
to outline my ways of life with her help,
to find paths to wisdom and love
and to use her for the good of all.

מִי יִתֵּן וּשְׂפָתָהּ שֶׁל הַתּוֹרָה
שֶׁמְּחַבֶּרֶת בֵּין עָבַר לֶעָתִיד,
וְאוֹתִיּוֹתֶיהָ
שֶׁחֲרוּתוֹת בְּדִמְיוֹנִי פְּנִימָה וּבְפִי הַחוּצָה,
תְּשַׁמֵּשְׁנָה אוֹתִי בְּשָׁכְבִי וּבְקוּמִי,
בְּבֵיתִי וּבְלֶכְתִי,
בִּצְעִירוּתִי וּבְזִקְנָתִי.
כִּי דְּרָכֶיהָ דְּרָכַי נֹעַם וּנְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם.
אמן.
Whoever teaches and translates the Torah
connects between the past and the future,
so, may the letters [of the Torah]
— etched in my imagination and uttered by my mouth —
find use in my lying down and in my arising,
in my home and in my travels,
in my youth and in my old age,
because “her ways are ways of pleasantness and all of her paths peace.”[3]
Amen.

Invocation/ Blessings

At this time, we would like you to join us in a blessing for Bar/Bat Hamitzvah and her family.
We ask you God for your blessings, love and grace to be showered upon Bar/Bat Hamitzvah and her family.
May they always know the comfort of your love and presence in the daily day-to-day life and may your Light shine upon them in all that they do.
May Bar/Bat Hamitzvah always know the gift of unconditional love and joy.
May God bless her and protect her. And May God’s presence shine upon all who are here with us today and may the face of God turn to us and grant us all peace in our hearts.

Moment of remembrance

We would like to honor and remember all those who could not be here with us physically today.

especially: Grandpa Tom, Great Grandma Sadie, Great Grandpa Ben,
Great Grandpa Gasper, Great Grandma Mary, Uncle Douglas

Although death has separated us physically, faith and love have bound us eternally.

Today we pause to reflect upon those who have shaped our character, molded our spirits and touched our hearts. May this moment of silence be a reminder of the memories we have shared, a representation of the everlasting impact you have made upon our lives.

Kadhish- Option #1(text style- Hebrew and then English transliteration)

יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא.
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ,
בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל,
בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
.
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא,
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאֵר,
וְיִתְרוֹמֵם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר
וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל,
שְׁמֵהּ דְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא
.
לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא
וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו
עושה שלום במרומיו

Yit-gadal v’yit-kadash sh’may raba b’alma dee-v’ra che-ru-tay, ve’yam-lich mal-chutay b’chai-yay-chon uv’yo-may-chon uv-cha-yay d’chol beit Yisrael, ba-agala u’vitze-man ka- riv, ve’imru amen.
Y’hay sh’may raba me’varach le-alam uleh- almay alma-ya.
Yit-barach v’yish-tabach, v’yit-pa-ar v’yit- romam v’yit-nasay, v’yit-hadar v’yit-aleh v’yit-halal sh’may d’koo-d’shah, b’rich hoo. layla (ool-ayla)* meen kol beer-chata v’she- rata, toosh-b’chata v’nay-ch’mata, da-a meran b’alma, ve’imru amen.
Y’hay sh’lama raba meen sh’maya v’cha-yim aleynu v’al kol Yisrael, ve’imru amen.
O’seh shalom beem-romav, hoo ya’ah-seh shalom aleynu v’al kol Yisrael, ve’imru amen.

5. Alyia #1 – Gift presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege and pleasure to introduce the bat mitzvah girl: תעמוד ג’נה ברכה טורי בת פאמלה וג’ייסון יוסף
Please come forward!

Presentation of Talit and Kippah

I am also honored to call up Bar/Bat Hamitzvah’s parents to present Bar/Bat Hamitzvah with a special gift
Parents will present their daughter with a talit and Kippah (gift)
Parents will wrap Bat Ha- Mitzvah in the talit
While Bar/Bat Hamitzvah, repeat after me :

ברוך אתה ה אלוהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצוותיו וציוונו להתעטף בציצית אמן

6. Shehecheyanu – (Please rise) –Bar/Bat Hamitzvah leads

About Shehecheyanu: Rabbi Sara

The Shecheyanu blessing (Hebrew: שהחיינו “ Who has given us life”) is a common Jewish prayer said to celebrate special occasions.
It is said to be thankful for new experiences.
The blessing has been recited by Jews for nearly 2000 years.

NEXT; Bar/Bat Hamitzvah leads in the blessing:

Baruch ata Adonai eloheynu melech haolam
Shehecheyanu ve’kiyemanu ve’higianu lazman hazeh

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe,
who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Amen

Parents will say a few words to Bar/Bat Hamitzvah / then Hug and kiss and go back to their seat

7. Bat Hamitzvah leads:

ברכו את יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ
Ba-r’chu et a-do-nai ha-m’vo-rach.
The congregation responds:
בָּרוּךְ יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
(Ba-ruch a-do-nai ha-m’vo-rach l’o-lahm va-ed).
Bat Ha-Mitzvah repeats after the congregation:
בָּרוּךְ יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.
(Ba-ruch a-do-nai ha-m’vo-rach l’o-lahm va-ed).

8. Bar/Bat Hamitzvah

, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֶלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים, וְנָתַן לָנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה.
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai Eh-lo-hay-nu meh-lech ha-o-lahm,
a-sher ba-char ba-nu mi-kol ha-a-meem,
v’na-tahn la-nu et Torah-toh.
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, no-tayn ha-Torah.
(Blessed are You, L rd our G d, King of the universe, who has chosen us from among all the nations and given us His Torah. Blessed are You, L rd, who gives the Torah).
The congregation / guests will respond “Amen.”

10. Bat Hamitzvah: Parasha

Bar/Bat Hamitzvah, would you have your presentation about the Torah portion ,
Parashat Hashavua

Bar/Bat Hamitzvah will provide a presentation about the Torah portion.

11. Bar/Bat Hamitzvah leads in: Shema Yisrael and Ve’Ahavta –

שמע ישראל ה אלוהינו אדוני אחד
ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה’ אלוהיך בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשךָ וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ:
וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל לְבָבֶךָ
: וְשנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם
בְּשבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ:
וּקְשרְתָּם לְאוֹת עַל יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ:
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזֻזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשעָרֶיךָ:

V’ahavta
et Adonai Elohecha
B’chol l’vavcha, uv’chol nafshecha uv’chol me’odecha.
V’hayu hadvarim ha’ele
asher anochi m’tzavcha hayom al levavecha .
V’shinantam l’vanecha v’dibarta bam
b’shivtecha b’veitecha uv’lechtecha vaderech
uv’shochbecha uv’kumecha.
Ukshartam leot al yadecha vehayu l’totafot
bein einecha. Uchtavtam
al m’zuzot beitecha uvish’arecha.

12. Song /prayer: Ein Keiloheinu.

אין כאלהינו, אין כאדונינו
אין כמלכנו, אין כמושיענו.
מי כאלהינו, מי כאדונינו,
מי כמלכנו, מי כמושיענו.
נודה לאלהינו, נודה לאדונינו,
נודה למלכנו, נודה למושיענו.
ברוך אלהינו, ברוך אדונינו,
ברוך מלכנו, ברוך מושיענו.
אתה הוא אלהינו, אתה הוא אדונינו,
אתה הוא מלכנו,
אתה הוא מושיענו.
° אתה הוא שהקטירו אבותינו לפניך
את קטרת הסמים.

Ein kelohenu, ein kadonenu,
ein kemalkenu, ein kemoshi’enu.
Mi chelohenu, mi chadonenu,
mi chemalkenu, mi chemoshi’enu.
Node lelohenu, node ladonenu,
node lemalkenu, node lemoshi’enu,
Baruch Elohenu, baruch Adonenu,
baruch Malkenu, baruch Moshi’enu.
Atah hu Elohenu, atah hu Adonenu,
atah hu Malkenu,
atah hu Moshi’enu.

13. Aliya #2 – Parents and siblings

Aliya – עליה שניה לתורה

“In today’s world there is no greater gift than the continuation through the generations of family.

Will Bar/Bat Hamitzvah’s parents and siblings please come forward?

Parents, you have led Bar/Bat Hamitzvah to follow in your footsteps from childhood, down the path to adulthood. You have always done your very best in raising her. the journey of parenthood is one of amazing beauty, this is clear just to look at you both. The love that radiates from and around you and your daughter Bar/Bat Hamitzvah today fill our hearts with gratitude and appreciation of this glorious day. Our wish is that Bar/Bat Hamitzvah grows to be a woman who will contribute to society and the world and will truly loves her life. You most of all will continue to be her guide on this journey.

14. Parents lead

ברכו את אדוני המבורך
ברוך אדוני המבורך לעולם ועד
ברוך אתה אדוני אלוהינו מלך העולם
אשר בחר בנו מכל העמים
ונתן לנו את תורתו
ברוך אתה אדוני נותן התורה
אמן

Barchu et Adonai hamevorach

Baruch Adonai hamevorach leolam vaed
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai Eh-lo-hay-nu meh-lech ha-o-lahm,
a-sher ba-char ba-nu mi-kol ha-a-meem,
v’na-tahn la-nu et Torah-toh.
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, no-tayn ha-Torah.
(Blessed are You, L rd our G d, King of the universe, who has chosen us from among all the nations and given us His Torah. Blessed are You, L rd, who gives the Torah).
Bar/Bat Hamitzvah: AMEN

15. Bar/Bat Hamitzvah: Aleynu

Aleinu l’shabei-ach laadon hakol,
lateit g’dulah l’yotzeir b’reishit,
shelo asanu k’goyei haaratzot,
v’lo samanu k’mishp’chot haadamah.
Shelo sam chelkeinu kahem,
v’goraleinu k’chol hamonam.
Vaanachnu kor’im
umishtachavim umodim,
lifnei Melech mal’chei hamlachim
HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

16. Parents & siblings lead : Adon Olam
Parents and siblings go back to their deat

17. Aliya #3 Grandparents

“Will Bar/Bat Hamitzvah’s Grandparents please come forward?”

Bar/Bat Hamitzvah is so blessed to have you in his life, and all the memories you will share with her. She is so blessed to have her grandparents here with us too. Bar/Bat Hamitzvah is so grateful to have you here with her today to celebrate this milestone of her life as she will honor and share all the stories and traditions of her family, her parents, her grandparents, as far back as the stories you have heard and beyond.

Grandparents lead:

ברכו את אדוני המבורך
ברוך אדוני המבורך לעולם ועד
ברוך אתה אדוני אלוהינו מלך העולם
אשר בחר בנו מכל העמים
ונתן לנו את תורתו
ברוך אתה אדוני נותן התורה
אמן

Barchu et Adonai hamevorach

Baruch Adonai hamevorach leolam vaed
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai Eh-lo-hay-nu meh-lech ha-o-lahm,
a-sher ba-char ba-nu mi-kol ha-a-meem,
v’na-tahn la-nu et Torah-toh.
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, no-tayn ha-Torah.
A prayer for our country: (Pamela’s mother)
God our Father, Giver of life,
we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care.
You are the rock on which this nation was founded.
You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation´s leaders.
Open their minds to the great worth of human life
and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.
Remind Your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking
and doing Your will.
Amen

Grandparents: Blessing for Israel
אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹאֲלוֹ, בָּרֵךְ אֶת מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, רֵאשִׁית צְמִיחַת גְּאֻלָּתֵנוּ
. הָגֵן עָלֶיהָ בְּאֶבְרַת חַסְדֶּךָ, וּפְרֹשׁ עָלֶיהָ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ, וּשְׁלַח אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ לְרָאשֶׁיהָ, שָׂרֶיהָ וְיוֹעֲצֶיהָ, וְתַקְּנֵם בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ
. חַזֵּק אֶת יְדֵי מְגִנֵּי אֶרֶץ קָדְשֵׁנוּ, וְהַנְחִילֵם אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְשׁוּעָה וַעֲטֶרֶת נִצָּחוֹן תְּעַטְּרֵם, וְנָתַתָּ שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ וְשִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם לְיוֹשְׁבֶיהָ.

Our father is in heaven, and Israel is drawn and exalted, blessed by the rule of Israel, the beginning of the growth of our greatness. Protect her in the grave of your sanctuary, and spread out your throne over you, and send forth your mother and her mother to her heads, her servants and her children, and you will be ordained with good things from your face. He strengthened the hands of the defenders of the land of our sanctuary, and our God gave salvation, and the crown of victory was sealed, and peace was given in the land, and the joy of the world returned to its inhabitants.

Grandparents Hug and kiss Bar/Bat Hamitzvah and go back to their seat

18. Drasha / Commentary – Bar/Bat Hamitzvah

19. Priestly blessing: Birkat Hakohanim – ברכת הכוהנים

יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ:
May the Lord Bless you and guide you

יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
May the Lord shine his face upon you and be gracious to you

יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ
וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם:
May the Lord lift up his face to you and give you peace.

20. We would like to conclude our Bat Mitzvah ceremony with 13 candles’ lighting ceremony

Each candle will represent a Jewish Value:
הכנסת אורחים, כיבוד הורים, צדק וצדקה, והדרת פני זקן, כבוד הבריות וכדומה

For the 1st candle: ________ please come forward and light a candle which represents love

For the 2nd candle _______ _ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Kehillah; Community and connection.

For the 3rd candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Welcoming people into your life.

For the 4th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Freedom

For the 5th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Justice

For the 6th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Tzedakah – Good deeds

For the 7th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Respect and honor your parents כבד את אביך ואת אימך

For the 8th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Respect to all humanity

For the 9th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Caring and helping others

For the 10th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Unity in our family and Unity in the world

For the 11th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: “Mi- Dor le-Dor” –
Passing our tradition from generation to generation!

For the 12th candle ______ please come forward and light a candle which represents: Judaism and the Torah

For the 13th candle, Bar/Bat Hamitzvah, please come forward and light a candle which represents: all the 12 values of the 12 candles + Love, appreciation and transformation of your life. Binah means wisdom and understanding. May God grant wisdom and understanding to you and all of us with a mazal tov and siman tov!

21. Closing Words

“The Hebrew word for joy or happiness is: simcha. It is also the Hebrew word for party. Today’s blessing is a simcha that signifies the triumph of life, the promise of a new generation. The hope that Bar/Bat Hamitzvah will embrace and honor the Jewish tradition and, in the future, pass it on to the next generation.
According to Jewish law and tradition, all life-cycle events include a meal of celebration and expressions of happiness.
Today shall be no different as the ___ family invite you all to rejoice and celebrate with them their Simcha: Bar/Bat Ha-Mitzvah!

22. Wine / Kiddush: Bar/Bat Hamitzvah Great Grandfather Papa Phil
We are ready now to recite the Kiddush, the blessing for the wine

We are honored to be using the kiddish cup that belong to ____________

ברוך אתה ה אלוהינו מלך העולם בורא פרי הגפן

Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. (Amen)

Hamotzie – Lead by a family member OR Rabbi

We will recite the Hamotzie:

ברוך אתה ה אלוהינו מלך העולם המוציא לחם מן הארץ

Let’s all greet Bar/Bat Hamitzvah with a Mazal tov!

MAZAL TOV!!!

Singing together:

Siman Tov U’ Mazal Tov