The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is one of Judaism’s most cherished and enduring coming-of-age rituals. To become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah means, quite literally, to become a “son or daughter of the mitzvot”—accepting responsibility for Jewish practice, values, and community life as a young adult.
At Greenwich Reform Synagogue, the journey toward becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a multi-year process of learning, growth, and community involvement. It prepares students not only to lead prayers and read from the Torah, but also to embrace the responsibilities of living a meaningful Jewish life. This includes:
- Learning Tefillot (prayers), their Torah portion, and Jewish rituals.
- Participating in Shabbat and holiday services, programs and dinners in our synagogue community and Jewish observances at home and taking on new Mitzvot, such as fasting on Yom Kippur and making a Minyan.
- Developing as a mensch, someone who embodies kindness, respect, and integrity.
- Engaging in social action and community service to help repair the world.
How the Journey Unfolds:
- Supportive Learning – clergy and teachers encourage our students every step of the way, ensuring they ascend the bimah with confidence and joy.
- Formal Preparation – beginning about eight months before the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, students meet weekly with Cantor Michelle Rubin for a thirty-minute individualized study of prayers and their Torah portion.
A list of prayers and Torah readings typically chanted by our students may be found here.
- D’var Torah Preparation – six weeks prior, students meet with Rabbi Jordie Gerson to explore the meaning of their Torah portion and prepare a personal sermon.
- Community Connection – sixth grade students participate in a three part family B’nei Mitzvah workshop, join the Tuesday 7th grade class, and complete a tikkun olam project as part of their preparation.
This process ensures that every Bar/Bat Mitzvah is not just a ceremony, but a meaningful and transformative experience that deepens their Jewish identity, strengthens family bonds, and celebrates each child’s place in the Jewish community.
B’nei Mitzvah Handbook
Click here to view the GRS B’nei Mitzvah Handbook.