Oren's Bar Mitzvah

About

Please join us for the Friday evening Shabbat service on May 9th and again on the morning of Saturday, May 10, 2025 as Oren is called to the Torah and becomes a bar mitzvah.

Becoming a bar mitzvah means that Oren will be recognized as a Jewish adult. The ritual of the bar mitzvah takes place at the weekly Shabbat service in the presence of our temple's community.

Events

Friday Night

Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday. Join the family for the service at 7pm, followed by some refreshments. Oren will lead the kiddush (blessing for wine) this evening.

Saturday

The morning service for Shabbat starts at 10:15am. Oren will help to lead this service and will be called to read part of the weekly portion of the Torah. Directly after the service, celebrate with us in the temple's social hall with a catered lunch, games, and music.

Hotel

We have reserved a room block at the AC Marriott Boston Cambridge, located a short ride from the temple. The hotel is also walking distance to the end of the MBTA's Red Line, which provides an easy ride into Boston or Harvard Square. You can use any form of contactless payment (card or smartphone) to pay your subway fare.

Locations

The map below shows the locations of the hotel, our temple, and where the nearby T stop is for anybody who wants to get in and explore the city.

FAQ

What is a Bar Mitzvah?

Oren's many years of study will lead to the moment when he is called up to chant a passage read directly from the Torah scroll. He will lead parts of the service, chant a portion of the haftarah (other Hebrew readings not from the Torah) and as one of his first acts as a Jewish adult, he will teach us about what he read from the Torah and what we can learn from it.

Is the service appropriate for kids?

A Saturday morning service can be challenging for kids in its tone and length (the service will be approximately two and a half hours). We would love for our youngest friends and relatives to be with us, but it is totally fine to take breaks on the temple's playground by the parking lot or just in the "schmooze room" by the entryway.

What should I wear?

To honor this special day, our family will be wearing new suits and dresses. Jackets and ties are appropriate on Saturday morning and/or whatever you might wear to another house of worship. Friday night is a more casual service and any level of formality will be fine.