The B’Mitzvah Journey at Temple Concord

Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is one of the most significant milestones in Jewish life. It’s a moment when a young person steps forward to say: I am part of this ancient tradition, I am connected to this community, and I am ready to take on the responsibilities and joys of Jewish adulthood.

At Temple Concord, we see B’Mitzvah not as a finish line, but as a beginning—a doorway into deeper learning, fuller participation, and a lifelong relationship with Judaism.

Preparing Together

Our Rabbi, Cantor Eglash, Religious School faculty, and staff are committed to preparing each student with care and individual attention. But the most powerful preparation happens at home. When families attend services together, celebrate Shabbat, and engage with Jewish life as a community, the B’Mitzvah ceremony becomes more than a performance—it becomes a genuine expression of who your family is and what you value.

The word mitzvah means commandment, and becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah means embracing both the privileges and responsibilities of Jewish life. Your involvement matters. The learning you do together, the services you attend, the conversations you have—all of this shapes how meaningful this moment will be for your child.

What Comes Next

B’Mitzvah is not the conclusion of Jewish education; it’s a passageway to wider learning and deeper observance. After B’Mitzvah, students continue their Jewish journey through the Epstein School, our teen program that meets on Tuesday evenings. Many of our B’Mitzvah students become madrichim (teaching assistants) in our Religious School, sharing their knowledge with younger students and deepening their own understanding in the process. In high school, students work toward Confirmation, another meaningful milestone in their Jewish education.

We hope your family will continue to grow in Jewish life together—attending services, participating in community events, and exploring what it means to live Jewishly beyond this milestone.

Guidelines and Requirements

To ensure that each B’Mitzvah ceremony is meaningful and reflects our community’s values, we have guidelines that all families are asked to follow. These requirements help create a sacred and focused celebration.

Download the B’nai Mitzvah Handbook

Questions?

We’re here to support you through every step of this journey. Reach out to Rabbi Emanuel at rabbiemanuel@templeconcord.org or Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash at cantoreglash@templeconcord.org with any questions.