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 helps teach various lessons in the Mitzvah! program. The rabbi will work directly with your child on their d’var Torah/sermon and with your family on 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.
Anyone wishing to celebrate a mitzvah at JCOGS must first meet with the mitzvah coordinator at least one 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 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.
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.
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 administrator. 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 and to outline the logistics for the day of the event.
The mitzvah coordinator will communicate the wishes of the family to the JCOGS administrator so that the sanctuary and social hall will be ready to receive the family on the day of the mitzvah ceremony. The mitzvah coordinator will be present on the day of the mitzvah to help facilitate and coordinate logistics.
When working with a caterer for the event, families will communicate with the JCOGS administrator directly on those aspects of the celebration. Please refer to the section on “Planning a Simcha at JCOGS” for details about food requirements and space limitations.