Verse K is commonly used by families with divorced parents or those with alternate lifestyle arrangements, while Verse L is a great option for an invitation where the ceremony is being held abroad and the invitation is for a party in the US at a later date.
Verse A
Please join us as we celebrate a
Proud and special moment
The Bat Mitzvah of our daughter
Megan Ray
on Saturday, the twenty-second of December
Two thousand eighteen
at ten thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Luncheon to follow
Stan and Bette Abrams
Verse B
Bette and Stan Abrams
As their Daughter
Samantha Elizabeth
Is called to the Torah as a
Bat Mitzvah
on Sunday, the third of June
two thousand eighteen
at ten-thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Luncheon to follow
Verse C
We would be honored to
Have you join us
at the Bat Mitzvah of our daughter
Amanda Beth
on Saturday, the seventh of July
at Ten Thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Luncheon to follow
Stan and Bette Abrams
Verse D
A proud and special moment
as we celebrate with joy
the Bat Mitzvah of our daughter
Amanda Beth
on Saturday, the twenty-second of December
two thousand eighteen
at ten thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Luncheon to follow
Stan and Bette Abrams
Verse E
Please share in our happiness as our son
Stephen Alan
Is Called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah
Saturday, October 5, 2022
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Luncheon to follow
Stan and Bette Abrams
Verse F
It is with much pride and joy
We invite you to celebrate with us
As our Son
David Stephen
Is called to the Torah
As a Bar Mitzvah
Saturday, October 20, 2022
Ten thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Luncheon to follow
Stan and Bette Abrams
Verse G
We celebrate today as traditions of the past
are shared with the future. Please join us as
David Stephen
Becomes a Bar Mitzvah
Saturday, October 20, 2022
Ten thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Alex and Joan Berman
Luncheon to follow
Verse H
We warmly invite you to
join us as we celebrate
a special moment in our lives
The Bar Mitzvah of our Son
David Stephen
Saturday, October 20, 2022
Ten thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Alex and Joan Berman
Luncheon to follow
Verse I
Memories are created by sharing
special moments with loving
family and friends
Please join me as my beloved daughter
Amanda Beth
is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah
Saturday, Novemberr 20, 2022
Ten thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Israel
Atlanta, Georgia
Alex and Joan Berman
Luncheon to follow
Verse J
My parents
Alan and Bette Abrams
Along with my brother James, and I
Would be honored to have you share
my Bat Mitzvah celebration
Saturday, October 20, 2022
Ten thirty in the morning
Temple Sinai
Atlanta, Georgia
Luncheon to follow
Verse K
For families with divorced or alternate lifestyle parents.
You may also adapt any other verse to reflect your own personal situation.
To avoid potential conflict, we generally suggest that only the parents of the child be
listed on the invitation unless BOTH sets of parents agree that spouses or partners should be included.
Please Join With Our Families
As We Celebrate the Bar (Bat) Mitzvah of our Son
Alan Joseph
on Saturday, October 20, 2022
Ten thirty in the morning
Temple Beth Jacob
Atlanta, Georgia
Luncheon to follow
at the Temple
Lydia Gold Steve Gold
Verse L
For families holding the Mitzvah abroad and inviting friends and family to a celebration after the ceremony.
You may also adapt any other verse using a similar theme.
Please Join Us for an Evening of Celebration
in Honor of our Son
Alan Joseph
Following his Recent Bar Mitzvah in Israel
Saturday, October 20, 2022
The Ritz Carlton Buckhead
Atlanta, Georgia
Saturday, December 14th, 2022
7:00 in the Evening
Andrew and Ellen Shapiro
It was my daughter's bat mitzvah last week.
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(Courtesy Nina Manolson)
We had the most wonderful celebration and deep, heartfelt ritual!
As part of the ceremony, I spoke what was in my heart and mind to Ruby on this special day. When I was done, one of my dear friends came up to me and said, “You have to share that speech on your blog. Every woman—young or old, Jewish or not—needs to hear those words.”
So…even though it feels a bit vulnerable because these are my personal words to my daughter, here they are.
This is what I most wanted Ruby to know on her bat mitzvah—and it's really what I want all women to know.
I talked to Ruby about being a powerful woman, and the five things it takes to be a powerful woman in this world.
I hope you find it valuable and inspiring too!
Here it is:
This past Monday night, the four of us were sitting down for dinner and we were chatting about the bat mitzvah. We were going over the details and what still needed to be done. I mentioned I still needed to write what I was going to say during the service.
Ruby said: “Seriously, Mom, the bat mitzvah is this Saturday and you haven’t written a thing!”
I said no, I haven’t written anything because there’s really only ONE thing I want to say to you on your bat mitzvah day.
Really, just one thing.
Then—and here’s the advantage of having kids who are writers—they told me to just say what I really wanted to say right up front, and then explain exactly why this is the most important thing for me to say to you today.
So, with much appreciation to my kids for structuring my speech, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
(Courtesy Nina Manolson)
Here’s what I really want to say today—to you, Ruby:
• Never stop speaking your truth
• Never stop saying what you mean
• Never stop writing your life, your thoughts and your feelings
• Never stop dancing, your passion and beauty
• Never stop expressing your vision
• Never ever stop being loud and proud about your opinions
Ruby, most people in this world take a while to find their voice, to figure out what they think and how they want to express it, but that’s never been you.
You’ve always been opinionated; you’ve always had a voice. A clear voice, and a clear point of view.
And absolutely, sometimes it feels a bit intense, and there have been times when I’ve shushed you or tried to have you look at things from a rosier perspective. But even in those moments, when I’ve wished that your perception of the world wasn’t so astute and acute, I celebrate you and applaud you.
I take deep pride that you say what you think and feel, that you rant, that you complain, that you say what you want and need.
You are your own young woman.
There’s something very cool that you embody, which is a powerful femininity and a fierce strength, and I want to champion and support you in having both. I love that you embrace all things girly and all things powerful.
Ballet seems like the perfect metaphor here—a very apt analogy for you, of course.
But it’s kind of like how people can get fooled by the grace and femininity of ballet dancing. They think it’s such a delicate art form and yet nothing could be farther from the truth. It takes huge strength, hard work and a tenacity to be a ballet dancer.
You are a strong dancer, my girl—on stage and in life.
And of the many things I could be talking to you about today, I want to talk to you about your strength and your voice.
And in addition to reflecting back to you what I see, I want to offer you five things to take with you as you go through life as a powerful woman.
(Courtesy Nina Manolson)
One is community.
To walk this world as a powerful woman, we need support; we need community. And I want you to look out right now. Just take a moment and look out. This is your support; this is your community.
Just pause for a moment—and check out this amazing gathering of people—that have come for you.
Family, old friends, dear friends, school friends, dance friends, Hebrew school friends, mentors. This is quite a crew, right?
It’s kind of like last night at Shabbat services, when the rabbi asked you and your tribe to come up to light the candles, and there you were with 20 people standing by you and behind you.
We will always be standing by you and behind you.
The second thing I want to give you is actually something you’ve already claimed formally for yourself today, and that is your identity as a bat mitzvah—a daughter of the commandments—a woman with a Jewish heritage and Jewish identity.
This is something you’re already stepped into with such grace, but I want you to know there’s so much more for you here in this world of spirit and deep tradition. You have a whole spiritual journey ahead of you. And the cool thing is, you get to explore and discover what deeply enriches you, what lights you up and what connects you to your unique definition of God, Spirit, Shechina, Adonai.
There’s no right way to do this spiritual journey of life, but this temple—the amazing leadership that has been here for you with Rabbi Cari, Rabbi Rim and Beth, your amazing Hebrew school friends, our special experiences at Mayyim Hayiim, your own depth and curiosity—these will all guide you well.
The third thing I want you to have in your life as a powerful woman is compassion. Compassion for others, as well as deep compassion for yourself.
I know you set a high bar for yourself in life. You do a lot of things really well, but I ask you to hold those high expectations in one hand, and in the other I want you to hold an equal, if not more, amount of self-compassion. I want you to be kind with yourself.
The fourth thing I want to offer you today is something that I want you to give yourself, and that is vulnerability. And that’s because when you are vulnerable—when you let life in and really let it touch you at your core, and you let your self, your authentic self, out, in all of its realness—it’s exquisite.
I feel very privileged to be let in to this inner, vulnerable world of yours, and your writing has let other people in as well. I just want you to know that your vulnerability, you being real, is very, very powerful.
The last thing I want to offer you today has always been yours and will always be yours—and that’s me.
I want you to know in your journey of life that I am always on your side. Always. Even when we’re cranky with each other, I lose patience, you lose patience, I’m here. There’s always somewhere to land and just be without being “on.” I’m right here for you.
My dear little, big, powerful, fierce and beautiful girl.
I am very proud of you and just want to reflect back to you that.
There is power in you.
There is wisdom in you.
Yes, I know it will grow and evolve, but I don’t want you to wait ‘til it’s all “just so” to share it with the world. I want you to take the wise words that you shared today about letting yourself make mistakes and go out and give the world the gift of your power.
I don’t even care what format it takes.
Whether it’s your dance, your writing, your YouTube channel idea, anything.
Just keep sharing what is real for you.
I want you to be the powerful woman that you are.
And to you, who is reading this, I want you to be the powerful Jewish woman that YOU are.
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B'nei Mitzvah Parent Blessing
Speaking to your child after he or she reads from the Torah is a rare and precious moment in a parent's life. Blessings should be about your child's character, your hopes and dreams for your child and about the value of Torah, tradition, family and Jewish commitment. You might want to ask yourself:
• When you think about your child, what thoughts come to mind? What are you most thankful for? What are you most proud of?
• When you think about your child becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah, what do you feel? What are your thoughts about your child leading services and reading Torah? About your child being “counted” as a Jewish adult?
• When you think about your child's future in general; what hopes, dreams or wishes do you have for him/her?
• When you think about your child's future as a Jewish adult, what do you hope for?
Some helpful hints:
• The verbs in blessings are usually done in “may ___ be” construction
• Don't be afraid to put your hands on the person you are blessing. Physical contact is not only appropriate, but it is also historically proper and very moving
• Dont' be afraid of repeating a phrase (e.g. May God grant you X, May God grant you Y, May God grant you Z…)
• End your blessing with a phrase so that it is known that the blessing is over (e.g. May this be your blessings, And let us say: Amen).
• The most successful parent blessings are written out ahead of time and typically no more than one page per parent
Please bring your blessings to the first rehearsal with Cantor Gurney.
Sample Parental Blessing 1
May you embrace life to the fullest
May you confront your fears and not allow them to paralyze you in pursuing what you love
May you view this world as a safe, unthreatening and funny place in which to dwell
May you one day fully appreciate the extraordinary gifts that you have been given of empathy, kindness, intelligence and beauty
May your sense of humor always be close to you and comfort you through difficult times
May you always remember this extraordinary day - and your Jewish mothers and fathers who came before you and made it possible for you to stand here today as a Jew
May God smile upon you, bathe you in sunlight and embrace you with love
Sample Parental Blessing 2
__________, surrounded by our family, friends and community,
This is the blessing I have for you:
May you have the ability to make your hopes and dreams come true.
May you be blessed with patience and understanding,
With wisdom and compassion, in your mind and heart.
May your deeds support righteousness,
And your goodness serve as an example to others.
May your enthusiasm for learning continue throughout your life,
And bring you great personal joy and fulfillment.
May your eyes shine with the light of the Torah,
And your voice be filled with song.
May your Judaism not be just something inherited, but something to be discovered and explored.
Mazel Tov
Sample Parental Blessing 3
With tremendous joy and pride;
In the presence of God, friends, family, clergy and congregation;
We offer you this blessing, ______________;
On this day of your Bar/Bat Mitzvah:
May your sensitivity to others less fortunate compel you to act on their behalf in the spirit of Tikkun Olam, repair of the world.
May your love of learning inspire you to seek knowledge and engage in the exploration of Torah.
May your passion and enthusiasm propel you to spread joy and hope and possibility to those whose lives you touch.
May your spirit of adventure lead you to fully experience all that life has to offer.
May your self-confidence and determination fortify you in times of uncertainty.
May you take the gifts and talents that you have been given and make the world a better place for all.
May you always remember this special day and cherish the memory of your Jewish ancestors who came before you and made it possible for you to stand here today with pride in being a Bat Mitzvah.
Together: We love you, _____________.
Sample Parental Blessing 4
Together: Baruch ata Adonai shepetarani me'onsho shel zeh.
(Praised be Adonai who has freed me from responsibility for this boy.)
Mother: ______, a few months ago you asked me what I expect of you in life. Then you said "And don't quote Plato!" Well, I won't quote Plato. But I will paraphrase Hillel. I expect one thing of you, and that one thing is to treat all people the way you wish to be treated.
Father: But a blessing isn't just what we expect of you. It's also what we wish for you. So here it is.
Mother: ______, May you continue to be the wonderful person you already are.
Father: Intelligent and inquisitive, healthy and humorous, creative and confident, honest and loyal, and responsible. You have an acutely tuned sense of fairness.
Mother: You also have the wonderful ability to say "I love you." Hang onto that one especially!
Father: ______, May you have companions throughout your life who love and appreciate you for who you are, who honor your values, and who are there for you when you need them.
Mother: May you help create home and community wherever you go.
Father: May you help to make the world a more just and peaceful place. May you do all the things you want to do, not all at once, but with enough time and space around them to fully experience and appreciate each one.
Mother: May you find spirituality on your own terms.
Father: May you be successful, as you define success.
Mother: And most of all, may you have joy, not all of the time, but enough of the time to feel that life is a wonderful gift.
Together: ______, thank you for being one of the brightest lights in our lives. We're proud of you, and we love you. Mazel tov.
Sample Parental Blessing 5
My blessing for you.
Be interested in everything. Be curious, explore, adventurous, drink in everything, have fun but also be serious. Make a difference. Don't sit back and watch, go for it, take risks, be involved, help other people, help this planet. Honor your Jewish heritage and traditions. Have a purpose in life. Let me say that again: have a purpose in life. Your purpose gives meaning to your life. May you pursue justice and be a blessing to others. May you feel passionate about the social injustice in this world and may you do your part in helping to repair the world. May you continue to study Torah to help shape you into a better human being. May you love reading and read many books. May you be not just smart, but become wise. May you look beyond the surface of things. Life is about making choices. May you have the courage and good judgment to make good choices in your life.
I love you.