Ministries

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Bar/Bat Mitzvah instruction is available upon request to any member’s child beginning at age 13. Training and discipleship are provided by LOJ Leadership and Shabbat School staff. A Study Program and Personal Preparation outline have been established by LOJ which must be completed by the candidate to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

HALAKHAH FOR BAR/BAT MITZVAH

This Halakhah (decision, rule) has been established by Kehilat Ari Yehudah/Congregation Lion of Judah as a means of setting forth the requirements for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah candidate. In preparation for becoming sons and daughters of the commandments, training and discipleship will be provided by Ari Yehudah Leadership, the Shabbat School Staff, as well as the family of the candidate seeking their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. All resources essential to this training will be supplied by Ari Yehudah for each student of the Torah.
The time necessary to fulfill these requirements is dependant upon the candidate. Each student will work according to his or her own pace in order to be fully prepared for the appointed day of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a traditional rite of passage from childhood to the age of personal accountability and should be taken very seriously by the young person making preparation for this significant milestone.

STUDY PROGRAM

•  Learn to read and write the Hebrew Alphabet.
•  Learn to use Bible resources such as a concordance and Bible dictionary.
•  Complete Volumes 1 and 2 of Messianic Judaism Study Guide by David Chernoff.
• Possess a basic understanding of the history of Israel as well as current events.
• Choose a Torah or Haftarah portion of Scripture to be memorized in Hebrew and read from the Torah Scroll at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony.
• Learn the following blessings in Hebrew to be recited at Bar/Bat Mitzvah service:
  Kiddush
  Hamotzi
  Shehechiyanu
  Candle lighting blessing (for females only)
• Possess an understanding of G-d’s perspective of the stranger (Gentile) in relation to the Jewish people (Exodus and Romans) as one body.

PERSONAL PREPARATION

• Candidate must regularly attend Shabbat Services and Biblical Feast celebrations.
•  Candidate must make a constructive contribution to Ari Yehudah, to be determined between Leadership and the student. This will be based upon the student’s talents, areas of interest, and availability.
• Candidate must serve in a type of outreach ministry approved by the Leadership. Ideas include visitations to nursing homes/hospitals (only one visit required), helping/visiting a neighbor in need, volunteering in a soup kitchen, etc.
• A public confession of faith must be made prior to becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah through the Mikveh rite.
• A testimony is to be given on the day of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah service as to why this candidate chose to become a son or daughter of the commandments.