B’nai Mitzvah

Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Or Ami An Emotional Journey

As a family, you will experience one of the most significant, highly spiritual Jewish adventures of your lifetime as your son or daughter becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. This is a highly emotional journey and may be filled with some anxiety, but mostly joy. At Or Ami, our rabbis, cantor, B’nai Mitzvah teacher and the entire staff relish our time together with you as we create a joyous and uplifting simcha experience.

  • “The Or Ami team – Rabbis, Cantor, Bat Mitzvah Teacher, and office staff – supported both of our daughters through the entire Bat Mitzvah journey from education and Torah training to personal reflection and speech writing, culminating with a meaningful and memorable “big day” for them as well as our family and friends.”

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    Jonathan Levy
  • “On the big day, Or Ami’s Calabasas, CA sanctuary, filled with our friends, family, and anxieties, transformed into a special place where our hopes, dreams and expectations were soon to be realized. Perhaps this same magic happens in all Temples, but Rabbi Paul, Cantor Doug and Diane are a very hard act to follow. “

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    Ray Joelson
  • “There are really no words to adequately convey the feeling of watching your child become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Seeing our daughter Sophia stand upon the bimah, chanting from the Torah with such confidence and grace, was one of the most powerful and prideful moments that we, as parents, had ever experienced.”

    Sophia Lieberman Bat Mitzvah
    Michele Lieberman

Fill out our Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Information Form (as soon as your child begins working with Diane Townsend).

Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies present a wonderful opportunity for Jewish families to celebrate the emergence into adolescence of a daughter or son. This Jewish tradition emphasizes learning, prayer, and public competence as demonstrations of maturity.

Of course, preparation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies takes hard work, sacrifice, and commitment. However, the completion of a successful Bar/Bat Mitzvah process affirms the self-esteem of an emerging adolescent Jew and his or her family. We are here to help you along the path.

  • 12 Months Before: Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation commences with a 12 week Pre-B’nai Mitzvah Prayer class with Diane Townsend, our B’nai Mitzvah teacher. Fill out our Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Information Form now.
  • 7 Months Before: Individual weekly meetings meet weekly with Diane Townsend, our B’nai Mitzvah teacher.
  • 3 1/2 Months Before: Family meeting – parent(s) and the Bar/Bat Mitzvah student – with either Rabbi Paul Kipnes or Rabbi Julia Weisz to talk about the whole weekend, to decide honors for aliyot blessings, and to help alleviate any growing anxiety.
  • 3 Months Before: Speech Writing meetings – meet individually for five to six weeks with either Rabbi Paul Kipnes or Rabbi Julia Weisz to develop the rabbi-student relationship, to study the Torah portion, and to prepare the D’var Torah (speech).
  • 2 Weeks Before: Cantor Doug Cotler rehearses every student to offer helpful advice even as he helps reduce the level of anxiety.

With personalized attention, the rabbis, cantor and Bar/Bat Mitzvah teacher of Congregation Or Ami are ready to assist all families of the congregation to maximize their Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies as authentic and meaningful religious experiences.

To schedule a Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, please call Rabbi Kipnes’ Assistant Icela Alcala (or call 818-880-4880).

For the Family

Mazel Tov! Congregation Or Ami would like to make your life easier upon this important and joyous event in your child’s life.

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