Cantor's Corner

The recordings and texts on this page are provided by Cantor Neil Schnitzer to enhance Congregation Kol Ami's Shabbat, holiday, and B'nai Mitzvah experiences.

The text and audio files of our Torah Service are provided as a convenience for our Religious School, B'nai Mitzvah families, and for those that wish to refresh their knowledge of these blessings.

Congratulations on preparing for one of the most important days in any young Jewish child's life!

To help make this day as special as possible, we're pleased to provide the tools to create your own Service Booklet.

The documents are sample text, graphics and terminology pages. Please be sure to submit your proposed booklet to the synagogue office at least one month prior to the date of your child's Bar/Bat/B'nai Mitzvah. Please remember that all materials given to your guests are a reflection of Congregation Kol Ami. It is your responsibility to provide copies of your booklet for your guests.

Mazal Tov!
 

B'nai Mitzvah Service Booklet
Single: Bar/Bat Mitzvah (Word doc)
Double: B'nai/B'not Mitzvah (Word doc)

Terms
You may wish to share a brief Glossary of Terms (Word doc) of some of our phrases and customs so your family and guests may more fully understand and enjoy the service.

History of B'nai Mitzvah
Throughout history, many groups of people have had rituals to celebrate the time when a child becomes an adult. For Jewish people, these rituals are called B'nai Mitzvah. Bar Mitzvah is the Hebrew phrase meaning "son of the commandment," and Bat Mitzvah means "daughter of the commandment." Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah means that a child has become an adult, and is fully responsible for their morals and religious duties. It also means that they have become a full-fledged member of the Jewish community, and must follow the rules of Jewish life — the commandments.

These rituals are usually held in the Jewish temple, or synagogue, and are followed by a party to celebrate. Family, friends, and members of the synagogue come to celebrate the young person's coming of age. During B'nai Mitzvah ceremonies, the child actively participates in the ceremony — reading prayers and giving their own personal speech. It is a chance for the young people to express themselves as individuals.

Contrary to what many believe, the B'nai Mitzvah ceremony did not originate from the Bible. It grew out of the need for children to celebrate their coming of age, long before the Jewish religion existed. Historians and sociologists have discovered evidence of such rites of passage in ancient tribes and cultures all over the globe. The modern B'nai Mitzvah has evolved and grown from these early rituals.