A MESSAGE FROM MINDY & MARTY

We would like to welcome you to services at The Highland Park Conservative Temple & Center.  We are so glad that you are here for this wonderful Simcha (major event) in our lives.  Andrew joins us in thanking you for sharing his Bar Mitzvah with us.  This special day becomes more meaningful when it can be shared with family and friends.  We have prepared this pamphlet as a source of information about our service and our sanctuary.  We hope that it will enhance your understanding, enjoyment, and participation in today's service.

BAR/BAT MITZVAH

When Jewish boys reach the Bar Mitzvah age of 13 or Jewish girls reach the Bat Mitzvah age of 12, they are considered of age to assume responsibility to observe the mitzvot or commandments which comprise the Jewish tradition.  It is one of the most important events not only in the life of a Jewish boy and his parents, but of the community as well.  This ceremony is understood to be an act of renewal of the covenant, which bound Abraham and Abraham's descendants to God.
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony is not simply the culmination of years of study; it is, more realistically, the starting point of an adult understanding of Judaism.  The ceremony is a declaration that the covenant between God and the Jewish people is being carried forward to another generation, to endure forever. 

THE SERVICE

The Shabbat Morning Service is a mixture of prayer and study.  It is divided into three parts: Shacharit (morning prayers), the Torah Service (this week's Bible study), and Musaf (additional prayers). The actual order of the service is: Psukei Dzimra, Shacharit, Torah Reading, Haftorah, Return of the Torah to the Ark, Musaf, Presentation to the Bar Mitzvah, and the Conclusion of Services.
The Siddur (prayer book) and Chumash (Pentateuch--Five Books of Moses), written in both Hebrew and English, read from right to left.  The Rabbi will announce pages and make comments for the purpose of explanation in leading our service, while Andrew will lead the congregation in many prayers during the morning.  Several friends and relatives will join the services with special aliyot (honors).

THE SYNAGOGUE, THE RABBI, AND THE CANTOR

Highland Park Conservative Temple And Center is a Traditional Conservative Congregation and hence committed both to tradition and to change.  Our Services are primarily in Hebrew, interspersed with English readings and presentations.  As you face the pulpit, the Rabbi is on your right, and the Cantor is on your left.  Cantors traditionally sing a cappella--without musical accompaniment.  From time to time, he will start a melody in which the entire Congregation will join; other times he will chant solo.
The Rabbi conducts and coordinates the Service, commenting on the prayers, inviting worshippers to ascend the pulpit for honors, and making necessary announcements.  Toward the end of the morning, the Rabbi will deliver a sermon.  He also will deliver a charge to Andrew, stressing his duties and responsibilities as an adult member of the Jewish community.

THE TALLIT AND KIPPAH

The tallit or prayer shawl is worn by Jewish men and some Jewish women once they have attained Bar or Bat Mitzvah.  The religious significance of the tallit is the tzitziyot, the fringes at each of its corners.  The tzitziyot represent the gathering of Jews from the four corners of the earth and additionally serve as a reminder of God's commandments.  The kippah is the traditional head covering worn by Jewish men and some Jewish women.  Covering one's head in prayer, as a traditional sign of reverence and humility remains a custom when entering the Sanctuary.

THE HOLY ARK AND THE TORAH SCROLLS

The focal point of the Sanctuary is the Aron Ha-Kodesh, Holy Ark, in which the Scrolls of the Torah are housed.  Suspended above the Ark is the Ner Tamid, the Eternal Light, which symbolizes God's eternal presence.  Each Torah Scroll, written by hand with quill on parchment, contains the identical text--  The Five Books of Moses.  Each Shabbat an assigned portion is read (from the Cantor's pulpit), so that during the year, the entire Torah is read from Genesis to Deuteronomy.  The ability to read or chant aloud from the Torah is difficult and requires much practice because the words are written on the scroll in Hebrew which has no vowels, no punctuation, and no musical notation for chanting.
This Shabbat morning, the portion, Vayishlach is Genesis 32:4-36:43 (page 128).  The highlights from the portion are: Jacob prepares to meet Esav, Jacob wrestles with the "angel", Dinah, and Esav's lineage. As a Bar Mitzvah, Andrew will read selections from these chapters.  He will also read the Haftorah, 1:1-1:21 (page 127), which complements this week's Torah reading.  At the conclusion of the Haftorah, Andrew will deliver a D'var Torah--a personal commentary of his Torah portion for the week.
During the Torah Service, the Congregants on the Bimah (pulpit) participate in a procession with the Torah, walking around the main section of the Sanctuary.  The procession demonstrates that the Torah belongs to the entire Congregation, and people respectfully greet the Torah as it passes.

CONCLUSION OF THE SERVICE

The Rabbi delivers the benediction and concludes the service.  Andrew and his immediate family join in the recessional with those who were on the Bimah.  We invite you to join us in the social hall for Kiddush, a period of fellowship.  The Rabbi will recite the prayer over the wine and cakes.  At this time, it is appropriate to acquire a plate and fork and commence eating.  The appropriate greeting for the day is "Shabbat Shalom" or "Good Shabbos" --May we all enjoy a peaceful Sabbath and a blessed week.