Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planning, From The Start

In honor of all my friends who are now getting "on their mark" with the Bar/Bat Mitzvah planning, I thought I'd back track to "the starting line." The best place to start is by double checking that the date you were given by the synagogue matches the Torah portion that may have also been noted in the official letter. Mistakes happen. I have a friend that introduced her child to the Torah portion in all of the ways I suggested, only to realize that the wrong Torah portion was written in the letter for the correct date of the Mitzvah.

Take your date and plug it in here: www.hebcal.com/converter - clicking on the button that says "Convert Gregorian to Hebrew Date." Then it will show you the Hebrew date of your Mitzvah as well as the name of the parsha (section or story) from the Torah that will be read on that date.

Next, surf over to the G-dcast Channel on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/g-dcast - in the upper right part of the page you will see a search box for the G-dcast Channel videos. Search using the name of the Torah parsha that you just confirmed at hebcal.com. Check out the short animated video that you find about your specific Torah parsha and share it with your Bar/Bat Mitzvah child!

Those are the top two tips I have for those of you just starting out! Thanks for stopping by!

Questions you'll need to consider...

Questions...
Most synagogues will provide you with basic information on requirements and honors. Some logistical information might not be covered...
1. Usually all males are required or requested to wear a kippah. Are they required to wear a tallit?
2. If they have an honor such as opening or closing The Ark, saying a blessing (aliyah) before/after a Torah reading, carrying/dressing The Torah, or other honor, are they required to wear a tallit along with a kippah?
3. What honors are non-Jews welcomed to have?
4. Will there be a scheduled time for rehearsal?
5. Will there be a scheduled time for portraits? Are photos or video allowed during the service?
6. If Grandparents are invited to stand or otherwise participate in saying the Shehecheyanu prayer, does this include non-Jewish Grandparents?
7. Is there a requirement to purchase flowers or sponsor a kiddush/oneg?
...
I guess I'll add to the list as we go! Please feel free to leave your own questions as a comment below and I will add them to the list. Thank you!

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Organization

Guest list
Hebrew names: child, parents, grandparents & anyone else that may be called up to the Torah for an aliyah
Entertainment contracts
Hotel room block agreement
Kippot contract, contact, receipt info
Venue contract
Venue floor plan
Menu options
Seating charts
Oneg/Kiddush hosting form, if required by synagogue
Kibbudim/Honors/Aliyot request form, if required by synagogue
Synagogue monthly newsletter to use as a guide for when you write the announcement for your child's Mitzvah
Synagogue weekly program, which might also help as a guide for your planning
Contact & pricing info for any entertainment and/or service you might be considering... photographer, videographer, screen printer, airbrush artist, decorator, calligrapher...
Invitation vendors, samples, contracts, proofs, ideas... menu cards, place cards, table numbers, custom program...
Friday night Shabbat Dinner ideas
Sunday Brunch ideas
...maybe more to come....
Your additions to the list are welcome!

a real education

I started a Facebook fan page called Shabbat Shalom that was intended to help me on my own rediscovery of Judaism, along with a Twitter page too.  I planned to post local candle lighting times, Havdalah times, and the name of the weekly Torah portion.  The page now has over one hundred fans!  I'm very proud of that, along with the fact that the page has grown to include daily Jewish History facts, links to educational blogs, current events, and so much more!  I've found and shared many different sites and even videos that explain the various Torah portions.  Some of these links are simple and family friendly, even for those with little to no Jewish education or background.  Other summaries are detailed and lengthy for those who want to dig deeper.  Before this year I might have been able to name 2 or 3 Torah portions.  Now that number is a lot higher, and more importantly, I can even remember a few of them!  Explaining what I've learned to friends and family becomes something I can actually do, and we can relate to!  Watching the videos with our kids, and even using them in the Kindergarten religious school class I co-teach, has been a priceless learning experience for all of us!  I guess we're all on the road to preparing for the big mitzvah!  Thankfully, we're enjoying the journey.  Now if we could only get something checked off the party-planning list!  :)

But wait? There's more?!

Is the (not so large) budget supposed to include a Friday night Shabbat dinner for family, friends, and/or out-of-town guests?  What about brunch on Sunday? Did you do that too?