B’nai Mitzvah Journey

You’ll find everything you need here to prepare for your upcoming service, including audio files of all the prayers and blessings. Simply choose the morning (10:30 a.m.) or afternoon (4:30 p.m.) service and begin studying! In addition, you’ll find lots of helpful information pertaining to the logistics of becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El.

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator, Hallie Weiner.

PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS

morning service prayer packet afternoon service prayer packet

Morning Service Recordings

Afternoon Service Recordings

TORAH BLESSINGS FOR PRACTICE

Torah Blessing Blessing Before Torah Blessing After Torah How to do an Aliyah

TUTORS

You will be assigned a tutor to help prepare you every step of the way.

TALMA BOYLE

I started my career as a teacher in the Israeli Army for new immigrants. I’m passionate about the Hebrew language and therefore decided to continue teaching when I relocated to the US. I worked for an Israeli high tech company full time, and for the past 30 years, have tutored students as well. I love my students because they are my inspiration.

HALLIE WEINER

I wear many hats at Temple Emanu-El but my favorite by far, is B’nai Mitzvah Tutor. I am passionate about teaching and communicating that enthusiasm to my students. I am thrilled to be one of the tutors at Temple.

CANTOR DON CROLL

It brings me a lot of pleasure to help students achieve something they thought they could never do: chant in Hebrew from the Torah. I love being able to make something they thought would be tedious and boring fun. I tell a lot of jokes!

ROZ KATZ

The opportunity to study prayers and Torah with students as they prepare for the Bar and Bat Mitzvah services is a tremendous privilege. To witness their growth from first hesitant phrases to chanting verses from the Torah scroll with confidence is like receiving a precious jewel each and every time.

RESOURCES

PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS
AND HOW TO PRACTICE

For Parents:

@13 podcast – a six-episode podcast series for parents and pre-teens
Bim Bam – videos on each Torah portion
Union of Reform Judaism Torah portions
Honors available for family and friends in the service

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

CONTACTS

Hallie Weiner
B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator, for all B’nai Mitzvah questions

Martha Bowden
Assistant to Cantors Vicky Glikin and Leslie Niren, to get in touch with the officiating cantor for your child’s service

Jennifer Dietz
Assistant to Rabbis Debra Robbins and David Stern, to get in touch with the officiating rabbi for your child’s service

Alice Martinez
Assistant to Rabbis Kimberly Herzog Cohen and Michael Lewis, to get in touch with the officiating rabbi for your child’s service

Andrew Paull
Director of Youth Learning, for questions about Hebrew instruction in YL+E

Meredith Pryzant
Director of Member Support, to apply for financial aid, or make special financial arrangements

For all other questions, please contact Cantor Leslie Niren.