Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Policy

We are delighted to celebrate your family’s simcha as part of our vibrant and growing community. While most families can secure their preferred date, it is rare for more than one Bar/Bat Mitzvah to take place on the same weekend. This policy ensures a fair and transparent process for allocating dates and provides a clear pathway for preparing this special occasion.

A Bar/Bat Mitzvah in our shul represents not only a joyous milestone but also a meaningful commitment to Jewish life. This policy outlines the mutual expectations between the synagogue and your family to ensure a positive, fulfilling experience for all.

How are dates allocated?

1. At least one of the child’s parents or guardians must be a member of Muswell Hill Synagogue both at the date of application and at the date of Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
2. According to the US bye laws, a boy has is welcome to read the parsha (such as: Maftir and Haftarah) on the first Shabbat after his 13^th Hebrew birthday.
3. A girl celebrates her Bat Mitzvah on the first Shabbat after her 12^th Hebrew birthday.
4. If two Smachot fall on the same Shabbat, priority will be given to the family who have had the longest standing membership at Muswell Hill Synagogue. The family who does not receive priority consideration under this condition will be given the next available Shabbat not taken by a Bar or Bat Mitzvah under [1] above.
5. Where more than one family has not received the first Shabbat after the daughter’s or son’s 12^th or 13^th birthdays (under the above clauses), families will be given the next available Shabbat following their 12^th or 13^th birthdays following the same criteria as above (i.e those with longest standing membership are offered the first date available)
6. In the event that a clash of dates gives rise to a delay of more than six weeks from the original date, the Honorary Officers will seek to resolve the matter to the mutual satisfaction of the families concerned. One option available is to include two Bar Mitzvah boys or a Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah taking place on the same Shabbat morning.
7. If the next Shabbat after a boy or girl’s Hebrew birthday is a Yom Tov or the Yom Tov will fall on the Sunday, the child will move to the next available date.
8. Should a family be given a date under the above clauses, but the date given is not acceptable to them, alternative dates can be discussed, and any Shabbat still available after those allocated to families given dates under clauses 1- 4 can be offered. These alternative available dates may be discussed, in the first instance, with the Shul Administrator. It should be stressed that, in such circumstances, clauses 1-3 above will not be applied and there will be no priority given to longer standing members. If no suitable resolution is found then clause 4 above will apply.
9. Once a date has been agreed and confirmed it will be entered in the synagogue diary and a letter of confirmation will be issued.
10. Parents are advised not to commit themselves to catering or other arrangements until they have received a written letter of confirmation of the date.
11. No Bar or Bat Mitzvah will be held on a Shabbat falling between Pesach and Lag B’Omer nor during the three weeks between Shiv’ah Asar b’Tammuz (the Fast of Tammuz) and Tisha B’Av (the Fast of Av) unless the family guarantees that no celebration involving music and/or dancing will take place.