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B'nai Mitzvah - page 4

Preparation and Tutoring
The First Meeting: 12 months prior to the simcha, set up a meeting between you (both parents, if possible), your child, and the Rabbi. During this meeting, the Rabbi will get to know your child better and review the preparation process with you. You will have the chance to raise questions and address any concerns you may have.

Tutor Assignment: At least 8 months prior to the bar/bat mitzvah date, the Cantor will assign a tutor for your child. Tutors are synagogue member adults and teenagers who have demonstrated outstanding ability in synagogue skills and will help your son or daughter prepare for their simcha. Lessons begin approximately seven months before the event, with the tutor meeting for 45 minutes to an hour each week with the student, typically at the tutor's home. Tutors are paid by the synagogue. If you wish to use a tutor from outside the synagogue, please contact the Cantor for approval and to discuss remuneration.

• Initial training: begins with the Haftorah and Torah blessings, the system of cantillation (trop) and the Haftorah itself.
• Additional Training: Once students have mastered the initial skills, they and their tutors may establish additional goals for participation in the service. This can include chanting the maftir portion of the Torah, chanting other aliyot (sections of the Torah), leading the Torah service, and leading the Musaf service.

The D'var Torah (teaching on the Torah or Haftarah reading): At least three months prior to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, set up a meeting with the Rabbi to begin preparing the d'var Torah. The Rabbi will review the Haftarah or Torah portion in detail, and the student will then be assigned to prepare a talk covering:

• A historical background of the Torah reading or of the Haftarah and the prophet from whose book the Haftarah is taken,
• A summary of the Haftorah or Torah reading,
• A personal interpretation of and commentary on this material

The Final Rehearsal: Approximately one month prior to the simcha, contact the Cantor for a final, individual rehearsal, which usually occurs 10-12 days before the simcha.