Planning for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a very special time! This important milestone is one that many choose to celebrate with their friends and family – but where to start! With so many things to think about and organise, it can feel a little overwhelming. One of the first items that you will be looking into is the date for your Simcha! To help you with your research have a look at the information below which can help with your decision. If you have any ideas of your own that would be useful to include in our blog, please let us know, we would love to hear about them!
1. Definition of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Two thousand years ago, the Rabbis of ancient Israel were deliberating at what point a child should be obliged to carry out the mitzvot, the commandments of Judaism. They recognised that girls matured more quickly than boys and so decided that girls became bat-mitzvah (which means ‘daughter of the commandments’) at the age of 12, while boys would become bar-mitzvah at the age of 13. In the middle ages the custom was introduced of calling a boy to recite the Torah blessing on the Shabbat immediately following his thirteenth birthday. The purpose of this event was to notify the congregation that, in future, this boy could be included in a minyan (10 men over the age of 13).
2. How do I find out the date of my Bar/Bat Mitzvah?
Traditionally, the 13th anniversary of the Hebrew date on which the child was born is the earliest available date for a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony (this can be as much as 20 days either side of the child’s actual birthday). A ceremony can take place at any time after the child has turned thirteen; there is no deadline!
You can use an online calendars such as this to work out your Bar/Bat Mitvah date which can be quite useful!:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/bar-bat-mitzvah_cdo/aid/6227/jewish/BarBat-Mitzvah-Date-Calculator.htm
3. When should I book that date with my synagogue?
The date should be booked as soon as possible as venues can be booked up to 3 years in advance! So as soon as you know which date you want to go for, you should contact your local synagogue to book the date.
Our next blog will be focusing on “What dates do I need to avoid when booking my Simcha”… make sure to sign-up on our website (www.dashofsparkle.com) for our newsletter so you don’t miss out!
If you need help with planning a Bar/Bat Mitvah celebration, or indeed any special occasion, we have some great industry contacts, a creative and inspiring team with plenty of experience, we would love to help!
Get in touch today for a free consultation so that we can get started and brainstorm ideas for your function!