Bnei Mitzvah Timeline & Checklist
B’nei
Mitzvah Timeline & Checklist
PLEASE NOTE: This
checklist and suggested timeline is provided as a guide for planning your B’nei
Mitzvah service and celebration. It does
not cover educational requirements or timelines. Educational requirements and related
timelines will be provided by your child’s teachers and Rabbi Edery, and is
individualized for each child as he or she moves through the education process.
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§ B’nei Mitzvah date: § Torah & Haftorah preparation § Temple/Facilities Use Form: § B’nei Mitzvah project: § Service outline/plan: § Speech: § Oneg/Kiddush: § Hebrew: § Hebrew testing prior to date selection: |
B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator (Larry Ginsburg) Tutors, coordinated by Hal Zenick Beth Shalom office Rabbi Hal Zenick Rabbi Sisterhood Learn in Hal Zenick |
2 years
prior:
Set the date. Typically, the B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator will
reach out to eligible families at this time.
You will need to work with the Ritual Committee’s B’nei Mitzvah
Coordinator on setting the date to ensure there are no conflicts with Beth
Shalom’s other scheduled events, holidays, or celebrations. The B’nei Mitzvah
Coordinator will make sure your agreed-upon date is put in the Master Calendar.
1 – 2 years
prior:
Find out the torah portion.
Think about your options and
budget. Decide on what kind of
celebration you want to have - there are no rules. It can be elaborate or as simple as you
want. Think about what you liked and
disliked at other B’nei Mitzvah celebrations.
Make a tentative guest list - family, friends, Synagogue class-mates, business associates, etc. and
begin to gather mailing addresses.
Visit possible sites - hotels, restaurants, party rooms, etc., and talk with caterers. Past B’nei Mitzvah families make wonderful
sources of information.
Book your site. This should be done as early as possible to
ensure availability for the date you want.
9 months - 1
year prior:
Begin learning your torah and
haftorah portions. You will need to set
up regular learning sessions with Hal Zenick who will meet with the b’nei
mitzvah child weekly to prepare him/her.
An initial appointment with Dr. Zenick should be scheduled about one
year before your planned date for an assessment of the b’nei mitzvah child’s
readiness.
Think about and decide on themes
and color schemes.
Book the photographer, florist
and music, if these are in your plans.
Discuss the need for tutoring
with Hal Zenick or your child’s Hebrew teacher.
6 - 9 months
prior:
Reserve a block of hotel rooms
for out-of-town guests. Plan the weekend
experience for out-of-town guests – do you want to plan transportation, meals
and/or activities for Friday through Sunday, or leave people to their own
devices?
Review the service outline with
the Rabbi. Also, consider your music choices for the service, and think about
who you may want to include in the service.
Begin drafting dvar torah.
Begin the B’nei Mitzvah project. Each B’nei Mitzvah student is highly
encouraged to complete a tikkun olam
or tzedakah project as part of
his/her preparation
3 - 6 months
prior:
Order invitations, thank-you
notes, napkins, kippot/yarmulkas, Tallit, Tallit bag. Our Sisterhood has some catalogs to help you
order these items.
Firm up plans with caterer.
Order the cake.
Contact cantorial assistants,
singers, or other members of synagogue that you want to include in the service
to book the date and discuss service plans.
Work on schedules, maps, transportation,
meal, and hotel information and anything else that will need to be mailed to
out-of-town guests. Decide if you want
to mail this information with invitations or provide separately.
Meet with the synagogue office
manager to complete a Request for
Building Use Form and pay building use fees.
1 – 2 months
prior:
8 weeks prior:
Mail out-of-town invitations.
Keep a record of responses.
Send notice to Beth Shalom Newsletter with a picture and biography of
your child (interests, school, family, etc.)
The deadline is the first week of the month before your child’s B’nei
Mitzvah.
Make Oneg arrangements. Finalize
plans for setting up and cleaning up for Oneg.
6 weeks prior:
Mail in-town invitations.
Double-check all arrangements.
Work on the service outline with the Rabbi aliyot, readings,
and cantor.
Finalize the service outline, music choices, reading assignments, and
aliyot. Review your service program for
the B’nei Mitzvah with the Rabbi.
2 - 4 weeks prior:
Get Hebrew names for the aliyot and provide to Rabbi.
Reconfirm numbers with catering.
Write family speeches.
Consider mailing photocopied parts to people who will be participating
in the service. Send an audio tape of
aliyah blessings to people being called for aliyot so that they have time to
prepare, or direct them to the link on the Beth Shalom website.
Decide if you are going to have a candle lighting ceremony during the
reception. If so, plan remarks, select
participants, purchase candles and candleholders to prepare for ceremony.
Arrange baby-sitting, if needed.
1 - 2 weeks prior:
Prepare welcome gifts for out of town guests. Include maps and any other information your
guests will need for the weekend.
Make place cards and other necessary last minute items.
Make plans to transport kids and out-of-town guests from services to
reception, if needed.