B'not Mitzvah for Dummies
Many of our friends who are coming to Shayna & Maya's B'not Mitzvah are not Jewish, and I am not Jewish either... So, I thought I would put up some tips for you all about this whole affair. First of all, it is a B'not Mitzvah because there are two girls together. If there was only Shayna (or Maya) it would be called a Bat Mitzvah. B'not is the plural of Bat.
Bat Mitzvah means "Daughter of the Covenant". Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the commandments, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible. At the age of 12 (or 13) children become obligated to observe the commandments. The Bat Mitzvah ceremony formally marks the assumption of that obligation, along with the corresponding right to take part in leading the religious services, and generally to be an active and responsible member of the Jewish community. It is also the culmination of three years of religious school, followed by three years of Hebrew and Torah (Bible) study. Therefore, it is a very important day for Maya & Shayna.
The day starts out with services at the synagogue that will be a regular Saturday Shabbat Service, with the addition of the celebrants (Shayna & Maya) leading parts of the service, saying blessings over and reading from the Torah, and then reciting a Haftarah portion in Hebrew, all in traditional chant. The celebrants also make a brief speech about what the portion of the Torah and Haftarah mean to them personally.
After the morning services at the synagogue there is a reception for all the congregation, hosted by the families of the celebrants. This is a Kiddush luncheon with kosher foods so that everyone may partake.
In the evening there is another meal for the celebrant's families and their close relatives and special guests, as well as the friends of the celebrants. It is called by adults the "celebratory b'not mitzvah meal" and by the youth, the "PARTY". In some congregations, this event eclipses the Shabbat service, but ours is planned to be an opportunity for the girls and their friends to have fun and the adults to kick back and get some of our own music played. Ours will be an almost secular event, with the location being the Ben Hur Shriner's Hall and the music by Panaluu Production DJ Service from San Antonio; their first B'not Mitzvah.
~~For a basic description of the whole day, check out Bar & Bat Mitzvahs at www.dummies.com/how-to/content/celebrating-the-cycles-of-life-in-judaism.html
~~For attire, think Austin Chic.
~~For basic Etiquitte see www.partyspot.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=A60926171804
Presented to you non-Jews by Shayna's Dad --> Jack
Edited by Shayna's Mom --> Liz
and
Approved by Shayna herself!
