Dear Friends –

One of our greatest pleasures is the opportunity we have to learn with youngsters on the verge of their teen years. In that regard, each of us plays a key role in preparing the children of Sinai Temple to become Bar and Bat Mitzvah and then move on into further learning in our 8th, 9th, and Tenth Grade programs. Cantor Levson works individually with each child on the reading and chanting of prayers plus the Torah and Haftarah portions. Rabbi Shapiro meets with each Bar/Bat Mitzvah family privately to shape their service experience and then works as well with each child individually. We enrich the whole process in Sixth Grade with a weekend retreat for all students and then continue with special programming through Seventh Grade. By the time a child is ready to participate in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah service, we know that child well. We know the family well, and we hope that the process has been sacred and beautiful for everyone. If you have any questions for either of us, please be in touch. We think the Bar/Bat Mitzvah process at Sinai can truly be a milestone in your family’s Jewish life!

Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro
Cantor Martin Levson

Education Requirements for Becoming A Bar/Bat Mitzvah

• Any student planning to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah must be enrolled in and attending Sinai Temple Religious/Hebrew School or an equivalent school which is organized and run under Jewish auspices.

            This means that if the child becomes Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Seventh Grade, he or she must be enrolled in, attend, and complete the Seventh Grade Sunday, and mid-week Hebrew programs.  (There is a minimum requirement of three years in our Sunday and Hebrew programs for anyone moving into the area after Third Grade)
            If the child becomes Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Eighth Grade, he or she must be enrolled in, attend, and complete the Eighth Grade program offered by Sinai Temple.
It is also our understanding that becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is part of the larger educational program of life long Jewish learning at Sinai.  All students are encouraged and expected to continue learning through to the end of Tenth Grade Confirmation. 

• Students who previously attended a Jewish day School, but are not presently attending one, will be evaluated by the Rabbi, Cantor and/or Director of Education to determine their competency in Hebrew. Attending Sinai Temple Hebrew School will be at the discretion of the Rabbi, Cantor and Director of Education.  Attendance at Sinai Temple’s Sunday program will be required.  In addition, any child attending a Jewish Day School at the time of Bar/Bat Mitzvah but not during the previous few years will be evaluated to determine their competency in Hebrew.  If the child’s competency is deemed satisfactory, he/she will be considered to have met the equivalent of the Hebrew program at Sinai.  If the child’s competency is unsatisfactory, individualized assignments according to need will be developed by the Director of Education and/or the Rabbi or Cantor.

Sinai Temple Religious School will make every reasonable effort to meet the needs of special needs learners.  Parents of children with documented special needs may, in addition, elect to provide individual Hebrew tutoring for their children based on the following criteria:

• To be eligible, the child must have a current IEP in place and be receiving special services in school.  Parents should share the IEP, relevant assessments and/or other appropriate information with the Director of Education.
• The Director of Education will monitor each child’s progress with a minimum of 2 evaluations per year.
• The child’s family must meet with the Rabbi, Cantor and Director of Education at least one year prior to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah to discuss the specifics of the ceremony.

Exceptions to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah requirement policies will be considered if submitted in writing to the Religious School Committee.  The Committee will respond in writing within seven days following its next regularly scheduled meeting.  If the family is not satisfied, they may seek review of their request by the Sinai Temple Board of Trustees.  (All decisions of The Board of Trustees are final).