The Bat Mitzvah Service

Our non-Jewish guests might be interested to read this article explaining what a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is and how it is observed.

Temple Isaiah's Shabbat morning service is a mix of prayers, chants, and songs; some in Hebrew and some in English. The service is definitely participatory, and everyone is invited and encouraged to read, sing, or chant along, to whatever extent they feel comfortable (the prayer book has English transliterations of the Hebrew prayers for those who do not read Hebrew).

The service is led by the Rabbi (Rabbi Howard Jaffe will be presiding, and Associate Rabbi Carey Brown may also be there). Cantor Lisa Doob leads the congregation in singing prayers and some prayers or songs may include instrumental accompaniment by guitar or keyboard.

As part of her Bat Mitzvah responsibilities, Naomi will be an active participant in the service, leading parts of it in English and in Hebrew. She will be called to her first aliyah, will read her haftorah, and as is the custom at Temple Isaiah, will also chant the Torah portions themselves in Hebrew (Naomi has been very busy for the past few months learning how to do that, and is doing very well!).

A few notes about the way Temple Isaiah conducts its Bar/Bat Mitzvah services:

• The service begins promptly at 11:00 AM. Please try to be there before 11:00 to minimize any disruption to the service once it starts. You can expect the service to be over sometime between 12:30-12:45.
  
  
• The Bat Mitzvah service is separate from the regular congregational service, which is held earlier in the morning. Naomi will be sharing her Bat Mitzvah service with her classmate Evelyn Solis. You can therefore expect that everyone at the service is there to help either Naomi or Evelyn celebrate their Bat Mitzvah.

Naomi will also be delivering a speech to the congregation about the meaning of her Torah portion and haftorah.