Wilshire Boulevard Temple Religious School

Welcome to the B’nei Mitzvah journey! One way to describe Judaism is as a conversation throughout the generations. When your child becomes Bar or Bat Mitzvah he or she joins that boisterous, alive, and meaningful conversation in a more profound way. It is a spiritual, intellectual, ethical and emotional conversation about who they are as individuals, as a part of the Jewish people, and as part of humanity. Torah is our vehicle into this conversation, as it challenges us to explore, question and discover every part of ourselves and our world. We are thrilled to welcome you and your family into this conversation.

As your child prepares for his or her Bar or Bat Mitzvah, he or she will study his or her Torah portion and learn the rituals, music, and prayers in order to feel fully prepared. Our goal is that during this process your family will feel supported, and that your child will feel challenged to learn and grow. It is also our goal that this process will connect your family more deeply with the clergy, staff, and community of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. We want you to know that we are here for you during these months and in the many years ahead. Thirteen years old is a beautiful age on the cusp of adolescence, a time of tremendous growth and transition. Together, we will instill your child with the wisdom and values of Judaism as he or she undoubtedly makes you and himself or herself proud on the bimah and long after.

L'shalom,

Rabbi Steven Z. Leder, Rabbi Elissa Ben-Naim, Rabbi David Eshel, Rabbi M. Beaumont Shapiro, Rabbi Rochelle Tulik, Rabbi Susan Goldberg, Rabbi Susan Nanus, Cantor Don Gurney and Cantor Seth Ettinger

There is a famous African proverb that teaches it takes a village to raise a child. At Wilshire Boulevard Temple, we understand it takes a congregation to make a Bar or Bat Mitzvah journey possible. Our shared goal is to celebrate a sacred moment in the life of a young adult and his or her family.

Below is a who’s who on your B’nai Mitzvah journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns!

The Clergy Team:

Rabbi Steven Z. Leder, Pritzker Chair of Senior Rabbinics

Rabbi David Eshel

Rabbi M. Beaumont Shapiro

Rabbi Susan Goldberg

Cantor Don Gurney

Cantor Seth Ettinger

Each student and his or her family will be assigned a Rabbi who will work closely with the family and guide them through the Bar or Bat Mitzvah process. He or she will help each student explore the meaning of their Torah portion and work with them on their d’var Torah. Assignments are made approximately one year prior to the date of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah and students are required to attend a minimum of three meetings with their assigned Rabbi.

All families will also work closely with the Cantor’s Office, and meet individually with Cantor Don Gurney or Cantor Seth Ettinger.

Meetings with Rabbi Leder are scheduled by Samantha Rosen, (213) 835-2121 or srosen@wbtla.org.

Meetings with Rabbi Goldberg are scheduled by Ashley Sullivan, (213) 835-2146 or asullivan@wbtla.org.

Meetings with Rabbi Eshel and Rabbi Shapiro are scheduled by Denise Magilnick, (424) 208-8930 or dmagilnick@wbtla.org.

Meetings with Cantor Gurney and Cantor Ettinger are scheduled by Jesica Ryzenberg, (213) 835-2124 or jryzenberg@wbtla.org.

The Education Team:

Lisa Alpern, Director of B’nei Mitzvah Programs

Cathy Gordon, Head of Religious School

Rabbi Rochelle Tulik, Associate Director, Religious School

Rachel Waltuch, Principal, Irmas Campus, Religious School

Brandon Cohen, Head of Elementary School

Nadine Zysman, Principal at Brawerman West

Gillian Feldman, Principal at Brawerman East

Rabbi Elissa Ben-Naim, Head of Judaic and Hebrew Studies, Brawerman Elementary School

Our Director of B’nei Mitzvah Programs, Lisa Alpern, is here to support you in every aspect of the process. She can be reached at 424-208-8971 or lalpern@wbtla.org.

B’nei Mitzvah Instructors

Instructors work one-on-one with students to prepare them for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah service (24 sessions total). Instructors are assigned through the Cantor’s office approximately one year prior to the service, and sessions begin approximately seven months prior to the ceremony. All sessions are included in the B’nei MItzvah fee.

Logistics

Logistics for kiddush lunches and more are handled by Cheryl Mandel Garland, Planning and Events Manager. She can be reached at (213) 835-2167 or cgarland@wbtla.org.

Preparation with Your Rabbi and Cantor

The clergy at Wilshire Boulevard Temple are committed to spending significant time with each and every Bar and Bat Mitzvah student. There are three required appointments with the Rabbi who will be with you on your Bar or Bat Mitzvah date.

1. Theology meeting (in small group)
2. D’var Torah meeting #1 (in small group)
3. D’var Torah meeting #2 (in small group)

In addition to the above meetings, questions, discussion and additional meetings are encouraged with your Rabbi. Please call Samantha at 213-835-2121 for Rabbi Leder or Rabbi Goldberg, and Denise at 424-208-8930 for Rabbi Eshel and Rabbi Beau Shapiro.

All Bar and Bat Mitzvah students will also meet individually with Cantor Gurney or Cantor Ettinger. The Cantor will record your child’s Torah and Haftarah portions in an appropriate pitch for your child, and help with parent blessings and choosing honors. Questions and discussion are encouraged with Cantor Gurney, please call his office at 213-835-2124 or e-mail him at cantorsoffice@wbtla.org.

Note: Cantor Gurney is at the Irmas Campus on most Friday evenings and at the Erika J. Glazer Family Campus on most Saturday mornings. Cantor Seth Ettinger at the Erika J. Glazer Family Campus on Friday evenings and at the Irmas Campus on most Saturday mornings.

Preparation with Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tutor

All Bar and Bat Mitzvah candidates are required to attend 24 30-minute individual sessions with their assigned tutor. Any necessary sessions beyond the alloted 24 will be at the expense of the b'nei mitzvah family. These sessions are required and critical to helping your child prepare for his or her Bar or Bat Mitzvah. If the student can not attend a scheduled session, please notify your tutor at least 6 hours prior to the scheduled session and be prepared to schedule a make-up session. You will be charged for cancellations within the 6 hour cancellation window. One parent must be present during the first session, but we ask that parents don't participate beyond the first session as this disrupts the tutor-student rapport. B’nei Mitzvah instruction will begin approximately seven months prior to the service date.

B’nei Mitzvah instruction typically takes place at the Irmas or Glazer campus. If you would rather have your instructor come to your home for your 24 sessions there will be an additional fee of $1,500.00. Please note that 100% of this additional fee goes directly to your at-home tutor.

Rehearsal Information

Rehearsals take place during the final three weeks before your Bar or Bat Mitzvah date under the guidance of Cantor Gurney or Cantor Ettinger at the campus where your Bar or Bat Mitzvah will take place. Parents are expected to be present for these three rehearsals. Students should bring the following with them to rehearsals:

• Hard copy of your Torah and Haftarah portions
• Hard copy of all speeches
• Aliyot chart

While you do not need to dress up for these rehearsals, we do encourage students to wear the shoes they will wear during the Bar or Bat Mitzvah so they can practice walking around with the Torah.

On the morning of your service, please meet your Rabbi and Cantor at 9:30 AM for a special tallit ceremony. Your family honorees are encouraged to attend this meeting. This beautiful ritual takes place in the Lerner Conference Room at the Glazer campus and in the Chapel Auditorium at the Irmas campus. The service begins promptly at 10:00 AM, and concludes around 12:00 PM.

If you have any additional questions about your preparation schedule, please don’t hesitate to contact the Cantor’s Office at 213-835-2124 or cantorsoffice@wbtla.org, or the Director of B’nei Mitzvah Programs at lalpern@wbtla.org or 424-208-8971.

Please note: The dates listed below are prior to the date of the child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Three years:

• Families receive the Bar or Bat Mitzvah date and location
• Families are asked to pay $800 toward the $2,400 B’nai Mitzvah fee (fee includes b’nei mitzvah materials, b’nei mitzvah instruction, and flowers for the bimah)
• Students participate in Wilshire Boulevard Temple religious school or elementary school

Three years-two years:

• Families are invited to attend various family learning opportunities
• Students participate in Wilshire Boulevard Temple religious school or elementary school

12 months - 9 months:

• Families attend the B’nei Mitzvah Orientation Dinner. At the dinner, families are assigned a Rabbi who will work with your family for the remainder of the process, and officiate at the Bar or Bat service. Your family will meet with the Rabbi at least three times over the course of several months to discuss theology and the service, and to begin the process of writing the D’var Torah (Torah speech)
• The student and family attend a private meeting with Cantor Gurney or Cantor Ettinger
• Families are invited to attend various family learning opportunities
• Students participate in Wilshire Boulevard Temple religious school or elementary school

Seven months:

• The student meets with their assigned b’nei mitzvah instructor to begin learning his or her materials. Weekly meetings with the instructors commence (24 total)

One month:

• The student and family has three dress rehearsals with Cantory Gurney or Cantor Ettinger