During the B’nai Mitzvah Year, students meet with the following clergy:
Cantor Shochet or Cantor Michaeli: to follow your child’s Hebrew progress. They will meet with your child about three times during the tutorial process. The first meeting should take place after 4 tutoring sessions (2 months), and then every 2 months on average. These meetings are important to ensure success in the Hebrew learning portion of the program. The cantors communicate with the tutors after seeing your child on the plan of action for the next two months.
Rabbi Saxe or Rabbi Stein: to discuss the meaning of the Torah portion and help your child prepare to write their D’rash or Personal Reflection Speech that is read at the service. This meeting occurs at 2 months prior to the ceremony, and usually your child will come back for a 2nd meeting a few weeks later. Your child should read the English translation of their Torah portion and do some thinking about the meaning of the Torah portion before the first meeting.
Rabbi Schwartzman: will spend 45 minutes with your child and the other Bar/Bat/B’nai Mitzvah student of that weekend getting to know them better, discussing the B’nai Mitzvah process, and talking about Judaism. Please reserve the Wednesday, 3 weeks before the ceremony, at 4:15 pm for this meeting. This meeting will take place at the Temple and snacks and drinks will be served. This meeting is for students only.
The clergy who will be leading the B’nai Mitzvah service will lead the last two bimah rehearsals. The cantor will lead the first rehearsal (Tuesday or Thursday, 2 weeks prior to the service) and the rabbi will lead the final rehearsal (Tuesday or Thursday, the week of the service.)
