About Sarah's Bat Mitzvah
We're excited to welcome you all to Sarah's Bat Mitzvah. We're looking forward to a wonderful day celebrating with friends and family to mark this life milestone.
Starts at 9:30am EDT
The service will begin at 9:30am. For our family and friends joining from afar, please note that this time is in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) which is GMT-4.
Virtual via Zoom
Due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the Bat Mitzvah will be held virtually rather than in our synagogue. The event will take place via the Zoom video conferencing platform, allowing you to join us from the comfort of your own home!
RSVP
While we'll be gathering together virtually, we still ask that you RSVP with your name and number of attendees. As the event date gets closer, we'll use the RSVP list to share instructions for accessing the online Zoom session for Sarah's Bat Mitzvah.
More Details
Learn more about Sarah's Bat Mitzvah
Becoming a Bat Mitzvah
Becoming a Bat Mitzvah is a traditional rite of passage marking the entry to Jewish adulthood. Today, Sarah will lead our congregation in prayers, read from the Torah, and chant her Haftarah portion. She will also offer a D’var Torah which is a commentary on the weekly Torah portion.
Kippot and Tallitot
Many of the worshippers will be wearing kippot (head coverings) as a sign of respect for God, and tallitot (prayer shawls), a symbol of God’s enveloping love and commandments. Wearing a kippah is optional. Sarah will be wearing a tallit for the first time, and she chose to wear the tallit that her mom received on her Bat Mitzvah.
Our Synagogue
Kehillah Synagogue is a Reconstructionist congregation. We embrace positive change (e.g. feminism and LGBTQ inclusion) while deeply cherishing tradition; we celebrate culture, history, and more, in addition to theology and ritual; and we focus on connections with one another. Individuals are encouraged to express their spirituality through participating in prayer, ritual, discussion, study, social action, and ethical behavior. Reconstructionist Judaism sees pursuing social, environmental and racial justice as key Jewish imperatives.
Honors
Some family members will have the honor of taking part in the service. As each Torah portion is read, someone will be called to recite a blessing before and after each part of the Torah reading. This honor is called an aliyah (ascent to the Torah). Sarah will have the last aliyah, referred to as the Maftir. After the reading is finished and the Torah is wrapped, Sarah will chant the Haftarah, a selection from the book of Prophets that corresponds to her Torah portion.
Zoom Etiquette
Please make sure to have your entire name displayed on your Zoom, as your name will be on a list so that you can be allowed in. Although we will be on Zoom, our community practices as though we are at Kehillah on Shabbat. Therefore, please turn off all other technology like phones and Alexa. Please no pictures on Zoom, and do not use the chat function. Please keep yourself muted, unless told by the Rabbi to unmute. We hope that you will turn on your videos and put on some fancy clothes! We would love to see everyone.
Photos
Photographs of Sarah from throughout the years!
- All
- Early Years
- Getting Older
- Present Day
