How Do You Plan A Bar Mitzvah?
In Judaism, a bar mitzvah technically isn’t something you can plan: a boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah (or a girl becomes a Bat Mitzvah) at the age of 13, when he is considered old enough to observe the commandments. However, it has become traditional for a child turning 13 to participate in a Sabbath service by reading the Torah or Haftarah (excerpt from the Prophets), and having a celebration afterward, and this service is what is commonly meant by the term “bar mitzvah.” Set a date for your child’s bar mitzvah. Choose a date that is close to (but after) your child’s 13th birthday. This is usually done in conjunction with the rabbi or administrator of your synagogue at least a year ahead of time, and some large synagogues may need lead-time of two or three years. Find out what will be required of your child at this meeting; some synagogues prefer children to learn how to read both Torah and Haftarah, but others may want children just to read Haftarah but to also lead parts of the regular wo
