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Our Vision
 | | Jesi Nacht and Rabbi Schuck study for her bat mitzvah. | | |
At the PJC, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is first and foremost a religious ceremony. By preparing for and having this rite of passage, Pelham Jewish Center children and families reaffirm their connection to Judaism. The luxury of a small synagogue is that it affords the rabbi ample time to study with the students and get to know their families. The bar or bat mitzvah is an extremely significant rite of passage for our children, and we work hard to ensure that the overall experience is meaningful and encouraging.
The Students
Our goal is to create a Jewish community for the B’nei Mitzvah students. Students spend the year prior to their Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparing together and working on social action projects. We expect that these efforts will instill a strong sense of community.
The Parents
We expect parents to take an active role in helping their child prepare for the Bar or Bat mitzvah. Parents should help the child set aside time for study; become involved in the child’s Tikkun Olam (social action) project; support and participate in all the preparation and programming required during the year leading up to the Bar or Bat Mitzvah; encourage the child to continue his or her Jewish education and to stay active in the synagogue following the Bar or Bat Mitzvah; and include the child in planning any celebration.
Dates
A Bar or Bat Mitzvah is held at the Pelham Jewish Center on dates approved by the rabbi, taking into consideration the child’s Hebrew birthday, Jewish holidays and PJC programming. Dates are usually assigned at the end of fifth grade. A child must be 13 years and a day old by the Jewish calendar to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at the Pelham Jewish Center.
The PJC Covenant
The Pelham Jewish Center has created a Bar and Bat Mitzvah Covenant to guide the child and his or her family through this time. Each family meets with the rabbi to discuss and affirm this covenant at least one year before the Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Contact our B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator, Beth S. through office@thepjc.org for more information, or call the synagogue at (914) 738-6008.
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