B Mitzvah

At Temple Israel of Natick, we take pride in our students who become B Mitzvah (Bar/Bat Mitzvah) and love working with them and their families.  The process includes:

• An inclusive approach recognizing the needs and strengths of each student
• Opportunities for non-Jewish parents and relatives to fully participate
• Learning to read Torah in the 6th grade
• Working with our clergy to chant portions, lead prayers, and prepare a d’var Torah
• Working on Mitzvah projects

For B Mitzvah Families: Some Important Documents

• The B Mitzvah Guidebook (including worksheet for honors).
• 13 Mitzvot Packet: as a PDF or a Google Doc
• Prayers for the Country & for Israel (here is a recording of the Prayer for Israel in Hebrew). Here is page 149 of the siddur.
• Some Parents’ Prayers and Yevarechecha (a traditional blessing for children) (here is an alternative in feminine language)
• Shehecheyanu Blessing
• A reminder of the temple’s “nut aware” policy (no actual nuts in the temple, though products that “may contain traces” are allowed)
• Click here for resources for learning to read Torah & Haftarah
• Here are videos with guidance for lifting and dressing the Torah (Hagba/Gelila) and having an aliya (chanting the Torah blessings)
• Social Hall Floor Plan