Bnai Mitzvah

Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at CJC

Our goal is for Bar/Bat Mitzvah to be a meaningful experience for the entire family. Congregational membership, involvement, and school enrollment are all important parts of the process. We require a commitment of time and energy, as well as finances.

We will do everything possible to assist families with financial need and thereby enable them to join the congregation and enroll their child(ren) in the school. If you have concerns regarding finances please contact the CJC treasurer and/or the school's educational director to discuss these issues.

CJC and the Columbia Jewish Community School have instituted the following policies regarding congregational membership, school enrollment and Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation.

BAR/BAT MITZVAH GUIDELINES

In order for a child to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at CJC, the congregation requires that:

1. The child be enrolled in CJCS beginning in the third grade. (If a family is new to the area, attendance at another accredited religious school will be considered.)
2. The family joins CJC by the time the child enters the fourth grade. (If a family is new to the area, previous membership in another congregation will be acceptable.
3. All Bar/Bat Mitzvah students prepare with an approved CJC Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor (a list will be provided).
4. Attend with parents CJC's monthly Bar/Bat Mitzvah family education program as this is an integral part of the preparation process. Bar and Bat Mitzvah students and their parents attend a minimum of one Friday night and one Saturday service/month. Students attend one morning service per month during the year prior to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah (excluding July and August). This will help provide a sense of continuity for the students and their families, help them feel more comfortable at services and help create a greater sense of belonging to CJC and the greater Jewish community.
5. Past-due Congregational dues or School fees to be paid in full or arrangements be made to satisfy all such commitments at the time Bar/Bat Mitzvah dates are assigned (approximately two years prior to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah). Families are encouraged to contact the CJC Treasurer and/or the CJCS Educational Director to make arrangements for fee reductions or installment payments if there are financial difficulties. Families must continue to be in good standing at the time of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
6. The family continue membership in CJC and the child continue attendance in CJCS following Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Families may not resign from CJC following the Bar/Bat Mitzvah of one child and then re-join prior to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah of a subsequent child.

Special Circumstances: In the event that a child is not enrolled in the School by the third grade or does not meet the educational requirements, the Rabbi and Educational Director will discuss the situation with the family and develop an individualized plan of study that enables a child to achieve the education and skills necessary for Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

In a case where non-educational guidelines (i.e., attendance at service, membership in CJC, etc.) are not met, the Rabbi and a representative of the CJC Board will meet with the family to discuss the situation and arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution so that the child may continue towards Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

It is understood that failure to follow any or all of the guidelines may result in a delay of the actual Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony beyond the age of 13. As no one wishes this to occur, please remember to contact the Rabbi, Educational Director or President as soon as possible if you feel that you may have difficulty following any of the guidelines.