Our Bar & Bat Mitzvah Program
for all special events click on this link Bar/Barmitzvah events
The Basics
A Bar or Bat Mitzvah can be held at the shul on a Saturday morning.
A Batmitzvah can alternatively be held on a Friday night.
A boy can have his Barmitzvah any time after his 13th Hebrew birthday.
A girl usually has her Batmitzvah after her 12th Hebrew birthday, but this is flexible.
If you are unsure of your childs’ Hebrew birthday try this link http://www.hebcal.com/converter/ to find out.
Our requirements!
Rabbi Gestetner is available to prepare your child for his/her Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Rabbi Gestetner will tell you what portion or Parashah corresponds to the date of your childs’ simchah and therefore what portion a boy may be reading from. If you want to try and work this out for yourself try this link http://www.hebcal.com/sedrot/. A course of lessons will be required to teach your child what will be required of him/her on the day. We have devised a special Coogee Bar/batmitzvah book which Rabbi Gestetner will work through with your child. There is a charge for these lessons.
In addition the Shul runs a “First Sunday of the month Brunch with the Rabbi” this a series of informal opportunities for you and your child to sit down for brunch with Rabbi Gestetner and other bat/batmitzvah kids and their families. It’s a chance to get to know other families in the area. For the children we also use this as learning opportunity to teach them in an informal setting a little more about their culture. A craft activity is usually included. In the past our Bar/Batmitzvah club children have produced matzah covers for Pesach, challahs for Friday night, hammantaschen for Purim, planted trees for Tu B’ish Shvat etc etc.
It is expected that your child will attend these classes each 1st Sunday of the month for at least the 6 months before his/her bar/Batmitzvah. There is no charge for these sessions which start at 9am include a breakfast rich in bagels smoked salmon and coffee – juice for the kids! They are held the first Sunday of every month throughout the year except during NSW public school holidays. See our events page for details of whats on when.
Our 2008 cohort and their challot
Boys (and if possible their Fathers) are expected to attend the pre-breakfast Shacharit service which starts at 8am. Boys and Dad’s learn how to put on Tefillin – there are spare Tefillin sets in Shul, if you don’t have one, and plenty of people who were once novices like you and are willing to show you how its done.
Pictured are some of our 2011 barmitzvah boys aided by Rabbi Gestetner
and our immediate past president David Ende
We want you and your family to appreciate the Bar/Batmitzvah of your child as a ‘right of passage’. It is a culmination of a period of learning. Part of the learning experience is to familiarise your child with the workings of the Shul and the Shul service. We require that your child attends at least 4 Friday night and 6 Shabbat Saturday morning services at Coogee in the 6 months lead up to his/her Bar/Batmitzvah. When Rabbi Gestetner sees your child for his/her lesson the Shul attendance sheet will be marked off in the Coogee Bar/Batmitzvah book.
As part of the preparation for your special day it is always a good idea to attend another bar/batmitzvah at Coogee before your own so you know what to expect
In preparation for the day
The family is able to honour male family members and close friends by offering then a call up. If you chose to do this it is customary to make a donation to the shul on behalf of your guests – you can ‘buy the bimah’ or suggest your guests to donate individually in honour of the Barmitzvah boy/ Batmitzvah girl.
It has become customary to shower the Bar/Batmitzvah child with lollies in order to commemorate this sweet occasion in the childs’ life. We ask that you deliver to the Shul, by the Thursday preceding the Shabbat, two large packets of wrapped soft chew lollies ONLY –hard ones can become dangerous missiles! These will placed in baskets and distributed to the ladies during the service.
The family provides a Kiddush after the service for the synagogue congregation and their invited guests. Our Ladies Auxiliary headed by Monica Foltyn can help you with organising this. The other option is to bring in an outside kosher caterer one licensed by the Kashrut Authority .
On a Saturday morning the shul provides security guards as part of the CSG. The family needs to pay for one security guard. A guest list will be required for our security team to check in your guests. Please fax or email this to Lisa by 5pm on the Thursday before the Shabbat of your simchah to guarantee a hassle free entry to the Shul for everyone. You and your guests safety is paramount.
A Bat Mitzvah can also be held on a Friday night. The Friday night Kiddush is a more simple affair where only wine, grape juice and whisky are handed round. You will be asked to contribute to this so we can adequately cater for your family and friends. These items will need to be delivered to the Shul by 5pm on the Thursday before your simchah – please call Lisa to arrange the drop off.
To book a Bar/ Bat Mitzvah please contact Lisa on 9315 8291 to reserve a date.
To arrange a Shabbat morning Kiddush please call Monica Foltyn on
Bar/Bat Mitzvah fees:
Member – $350
Non-member – $800
Lessons – $500
Becoming a member of Coogee Shul will reduce your Bar/Batmitzvah costs.
NB if you wish to become a member, please discuss this with Lisa.
To start the booking process please download this form and you can fill it in, scan it and email it, snail mail it or fax it back to us.
