B'nai Mitvah Guide
Mitzvah Project Organization Options
Choosing a B’nai Mitzvah Mitzvah Project is an exciting and meaningful journey! It’s an opportunity to reflect on your interests, values, and the causes you care about. This project allows you to connect your passions with a way to make a positive impact in the world.
To help you with this important task, we’ve done some research. Each of these organizations is unique and impactful in its own way. While we admire all of them, this is about finding the project that speaks to you.
Ach Gadol: www.achgadol.org
Achim L’Chaim: www.brothersforlife.com
American Friends of Neve Hanna: www.afnevehanna.org
Boystown Jerusalem: www.boystownjerusalem.org
Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options: www.jafco.org
Sharsheret: www.sharsheret.org
United Hatzalah: www.israelrescue.org
Zaka Search & Rescue: www.zakaworld.org
Glossary
- Aliyah: To ascend to the bima to recite the blessings before and after the reading of the Torah Blessings
- Aron Hakodesh: The holy ark which houses the Torah
- Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah/B’nai Mitzvah: Son of the commandments/daughter of the commandments/children of the commandments
- Bima: Elevated platform from which the Torah is read
- B’rachot Hakafa: The traditional procession during which the Torah scroll is carried into the congregation.
- D’Var Torah: A speech using as its focus the message of the Torah portion
- Haftarah: Sacred writings of the Prophets, the second book of the Bible
- Kippah: A head covering worn to show respect for God. Both boys and girls are encouraged to wear a kippah during services.
- Parsha: The weekly Torah portion
- Siddur: A prayer book
- Tallit: A prayer shawl worn during morning services. The Torah explains that wearing a tallit is a reminder of God’s commandments (Numbers 15:39). At Temple Beth Sholom, we encourage both boys and girls to wear a tallit during Bar/Bat Mitzvah service.
- Torah: The sacred scriptures of the Jewish people, consisting of the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
- Yad: The silver pointer used to keep one’s place while chanting from the Torah scroll