Frequently Asked Questions

Answer: Bat Mitzvah loosely translates to “Daughter of the Commandments”. It’s a Jewish tradition that marks the passing from one stage of life to another. When a Jewish person is around 13 years old, they are invited to stand before the congregation and allowed to read from the Torah, one of our most sacred texts. After that they are considered, in the eyes of the Jewish community, an adult. From that day forward, they are responsible for their own decisions and obligations regarding their religious life.

It is also tradition to celebrate this special moment in a Jewish person’s life with family, friends, and other members of the community. Being joyful while fulfilling the commandments is a tenet of Judaism. Sharing meals, dancing, and having a party is a way to show our joy and celebrate Renee’s reaching this milestone.

Question: What is a Mitzvah Project?

Answer: As part of her Jewish education, Renee has learned the obligation of all Jewish people to work to repair the world. As part of her preparation to become a Bat Mitzvah, she has chosen to raise funds for Anderson Humane. Renee feels very strongly about the importance to both the people and the animals in finding pets loving homes. According to the Torah, all living things praise God. Anderson Humane provides food, shelter, and medical care for thousands of orphaned, injured, and abandoned animals. For more information, click here.

Question: There are two events listed on this site. Am I invited to both of them?

Answer: Yes, if you received an invitation, you are invited to attend both events.

Question: Do I have to attend both events?

Answer: No. Come to just the party, just the service, or come to both. It would be our pleasure to celebrate with you in any way that fits your life and is comfortable for you. You are welcome at both events, but by no means obligated.

Question: Do I have to bring anything to the synagogue services or party?

Answer: Just yourself and your good wishes for Renee.

Question: Can I bring extra people?

Answer: This is a family event, so parents, siblings, and children are welcome to attend. That said, please RSVP for everyone in your party so we can provide accurate headcounts to the venues and caterers.

Question: How do I RSVP?

Answer: You can click here to RSVP for Saturday Morning Shabbat Services or here to RSVP for the Beach Bat Mitzvah Celebration or select the RSVP option in the Renee's Beach Bat Mitzvah drop down menu at the top of the page. Then just fill out the webform. You should get a confirmation email soon after submitting your RSVP. Please RSVP no later than May 23rd.

Question: Do I have to be Jewish to attend the Bat Mitzvah?

Answer: Absolutely not. There are certain parts of the service that can only be performed by a Jewish person, but people of all faiths are welcome to our sanctuary and to the party. One of the four pillars of our synagogue, is Embracing Diversity. Our own family is one of multiple faiths. There will be many folks among the attendees who are not Jewish.

Question: What if I don't speak Hebrew?

Answer: Not a problem. Very few of us are actually Hebrew speakers. Our services are held in a mixture of Hebrew and English and our Rabbi does a good job of explaining what is going on for those who aren’t familiar. The synagogue also provides a transliteration guide for services sounding out the songs we usually sing in Hebrew, so if you want to give singing along a try, you can. La-la-la and silence are also valid options.

Question: I'm not able to attend in person. Can I follow along online?

Answer: Yes. Since 2020 Congregation Kneseth Israel has been offering hybrid services via Zoom for those who are unable to attend in person. If you can’t join us in person but would still like to observe the service, please let us know. We will send you a Zoom link and password so that you can log in remotely.

Question: What should I wear to the synagogue?

Answer: The dress code at our synagogue is fairly flexible. Dress with the idea of respecting the occasion in mind, but don't worry about being formal. In general, think “business casual” for the services. A nice dress, a blouse and slacks, polo and khakis, a suit. All of these are acceptable attire.

Question: Do I have to wear a kippah?

Answer: Men must wear a kippah while in the building, even after services. Women are strongly encouraged to wear a head covering on the bimah as a sign of respect and in recognition that this is an egalitarian congregation. Don't worry if you don't have a kippah of your own. Renee will be providing special kippah that you can wear and keep as a souvenir.

Question: Do I have to wear a tallit?

Answer: Jewish men should wear a tallit during services. In recognition that this is an egalitarian congregation, women may also wear a tallit during services. Extra tallit are available at the synagogue if you do not have one of your own. Renee will be receiving her own special tallit that morning, which is the same one her father wore at his Bar Mitzvah.

Question: Do we get to throw things at Renee?

Answer: Yes! Once Renee has completed her ritual obligations during the Saturday morning Shabbat service it is traditional to shower the Bat Mitzvah girl with candy to represent our wish for a sweet transition into Jewish adulthood. Candy will be provided for everyone in the building to throw at Renee at the appropriate time. After we shower her with sweetness, the candy will then be collected and shared out.

Question: What should I wear to the party?

Answer: The party is a dressy-casual or festive dress occasion. This is going to be a night of beachy fun, so wear whatever makes you feel fabulous. Generally speaking, this is a special occasion, but no one will be wearing a ball gown or tuxedo. Also, be prepared for an evening of dancing, so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.

Question: Should I bring a gift?

Answer: If you would like to honor Renee by bringing a gift to her party, it would be appreciated. Regarding traditional Bat Mitzvah gifts, in Jewish numerology, the word חַי (pronounced khai), which means “life”, is represented by the number 18. Because of this many choose to commemorate major life events, such as a Bat Mitzvah, with monetary gifts in multiples of 18.

As part of her Jewish studies and preparation for this big event, Renee is also raising money for Anderson Humane. Anderson Humane provides food, shelter, and medical care for thousands of orphaned, injured, and abandoned animals.. If you would like to contribute to the fundraiser in lieu of a gift, you can find more information about Anderson Humane and her fundraiser here.

Question: Do we get to lift Renee up on a chair?

Answer: Yes. At the party on Saturday we will be doing a traditional hora dance and we will raise Renee on a chair and dance her around the room. We will even have a special light up LED chair for the event.

Question: Do we get to lift Lee, Nikki, and/or Lizzie up on a chair?

Answer: No.

Well, if you can convince Lizzie, you could raise her on a chair. But absolutely no grownups will be airborne.

Question: Will there be dancing?

Answer: Yes and no. At the Saturday morning service there is not typically dancing. However at the celebration on Saturday night there will absolutely be dancing. We have a DJ coming who is working specifically with Renee to make sure that the dance party is awesome for all. Please wear comfortable shoes because we will be dancing the night away.

Question: Is the food going to be Kosher?

Answer: Yes and no. At the synagogue all food is kosher so the luncheon after Saturday morning services will be kosher. However, the celebration at the Highland Loft on Saturday night will not be. The Highland Loft is not a kosher facility, and our caterer is not a certified kosher caterer. However, if you need a Kosher meal, let us know and we'll make sure you're taken care of. When you fill out our RSVP form, there is a special section for additional information. Please let us know if you need a kosher option and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We will do our best to prevent any cross contamination and make sure there is something there for everyone to enjoy.

Question: What if I have food allergies?

Answer: When you fill out our RSVP form, there is a special section for additional information. Please let us know if you have any food allergies and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We may not be able to ensure that everything available at the synagogue and party is safe for you, but we will do our best to prevent any cross contamination and make sure there is something there for everyone to enjoy.

Question: Is there going to be a vegetarian/vegan option?

Answer: When you fill out our RSVP form, there is a special section for additional information. Please let us know if you need a vegetarian/vegan option and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We will do our best to prevent any cross contamination and make sure there is something there for everyone to enjoy.

What is a Bat Mitzvah?

Wht is a Mizvah Project?

Am I invited to both events?

Do I have to attend both events?

Do I have to bring anything?

Can I bring extra people?

How to I RSVP?

Do I have to be Jewish?

I don't speak Hebrew

Can I Zoom the service?

Dress Code Synagogue

Kippah

Tallit

Throwing candy

Dress Code Gather

Gift

Horah

No flying grownups

Dancing

Kosher

Food Allergies

Vegetarian