Roles of mitzvah coordinator and rabbi

Role of the Rabbi

Through the process of your child becoming bar/bat mitzvah and your family planning this celebration, there is an opportunity for the family and rabbi to get to know each other, allowing for the process and ceremony to be unique to you and your child.  The Rabbi teaches a "How to Write A Devar Torah" classThe rabbi will work directly with your child on their d’var Torah/sermon and with your family to create a  personalized service. 

Role of the  mitzvah coordinator

The  mitzvah coordinator serves as the liaison between the family, the student, and JCOGS and will work closely with the family and the student throughout the process.  

Students should have participated in a Jewish education program for at least a year before entering the Mitzvah Program and should have had at least a year of formal Hebrew training . Those who have not will be asked to participate in JCOGS' Pre-Mitzvah Program before being eligible for the Mitzvah Program.  

JCOGS has a policy whereby the age at mitzvah ceremonies will be at least 13 years old.  There will be leeway of three months prior to the child’s 13th birthday to hold their service.   

Anyone wishing to celebrate a  mitzvah at JCOGS must first meet with the  mitzvah coordinator usually a year in advance of the proposed  mitzvah date. Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis. Even if the child or interested adult is not involved with JCOGS’s educational program, a meeting with the mitzvah coordinator must take place. 

During this meeting, the mitzvah coordinator will talk with the family and student about their hopes and expectations.  Together, they will identify possible mitzvah dates, discuss the mitzvah requirements including attendance at the weekly  Mitzvah program, and discuss the family’s or individual’s preference for a morning or afternoon service and the options for tutoring . The coordinator will also outline options for the use of the building on the day of the ceremony and inform the family about the financial obligations associated with the event.  

Once the initial meeting has taken place, the  mitzvah coordinator will discuss the family’s request for dates with the rabbi who will make the final decision and confirm the  mitzvah date. The mitzvah coordinator will communicate the information about the mitzvah date back to the family, order all Torah portion study materials, get the date on the JCOGS calendar, and communicate necessary information about the family’s plans for use of the building to the JCOGS Event Coordinator Olivia Easdale (olivia.easdale@jcogs.org) . The mitzvah coordinator will stay in contact with the tutor throughout to process to monitor the student's progress. 

 The  mitzvah coordinator will meet with the family again within six months of the mitzvah and as needed thereafter to discuss their child’s progress.  Logistics for the day of the event - number of guests, plans for the Oneg on Friday evening and the Kiddish after the Mitzvah ceremony on Saturday-  should be coordinated with the JCOGS Events Coordinator - Olivia Easdale (olivia.easdale@jcogs.org. )