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Post by alon on Jan 12, 2020 14:20:55 GMT -8
I just got this from the parent synagogue:B"H Shalom friends! Gidon's bar mitzvah is this Shabbat! He has worked hard to get to this point, gone through all of his various course work, ready to lead the k'hillah in the traditional t'fillot uv'rachot on Shabbat, has learned to read and understand Biblical Hebrew, ready to chant his  parashah, and to share a d'rashah. Please keep him in your prayers as he is fine-tuning his preparation this week. Please join us at the synagogue to support him during this season of his life. L'chaim b'Yeshua! Rabbi Reuel DillonChavurat HaMashiachA Messianic SynagoguePhone: 509-714-2939info@messianicspokane.comwww.messianicspokane.com“Jew & Gentile, One In Messiah”Donate at: PayPal.Me/synagoguechmIt got me thinking: how do those with no synagogue to attend do this? How did/do you train your children? What do you train them in? Do you have some kind of formal ceremony?
Mine were long gone by the time I became Messianic, so the issue wasn't an issue for me. But I realize it would (or should) be for others. But even in churches there are milestones in a child's life. And some families have traditions that mark milestones as well. John Eldredge had a tradition where his sons were taken on a camping trip, just the boy and dad when the kid turned 13. They camped, hiked, enjoyed nature, and the boy had some 1 on 1 time to discuss the issues of manhood as they pertained to that child specifically. I've known others who took their sons hunting, bought them a gun, or committed to preparing them for a specific life's goal. But something to mark this time of becoming a man as special. So this is not unique to the Jewish people (though a demonstration of shooting prowess might not be appropriate for a bar mitzvah).
Young girls/women need some dad time too. But my advice, talk to mom about what your daughter needs first, and listen! Both need religious trining, and a special event to mark the successful culmination of that training!
So what kinds of things do you do to train up your children to take their place in the congregation of the family- yours and Elohim's?
Dan C
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Post by alon on Jan 15, 2020 16:18:57 GMT -8
Just out of curiosity, I looked up the typical requirements for a bar mitzvah. I copied this from: shofar.org/They are a Messianic group that, on the surface looks pretty sound. However I found no statement of faith, which bothers me somewhat. They apparently follow a more Jewish style faith and worship, which is good. For our purposes this list is instructive:
Preparatory Requirements For A Bar MitzvahThe following are the minimum requirements for graduation in the bar/bat mitzvah program.Able to recite Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) in Hebrew from memory, and know where the remaining portions are in Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Deuteronomy 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37-41
Able to recite various food and beverage blessings (from memory)
Able to perform donning tefillin and tallit with the appropriate blessings using the Artscroll siddur
Able to cant the Kiddush in its entirety in Hebrew and understand its English translation
Able to read and recite the first blessing of the Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals) in Hebrew and understand the English translation
Understands how to pray the weekly and Sabbath Amidah with understanding (of seasonal requirements)
Able to recite the blessing of counting the Omer in Hebrew and understand its English translation
Able to recite the 10 commandments and give understanding to their admonishment (from memory)
Able to use the to find the answer to a difficult question, challenge or to solve a problem
Able to recite or cant his and Haftorah portion in Hebrew (not from memory)
Understands the meanings of all Jewish chaggim and their prohibitions and requirements
Understands fundamentals of ancient Jewish history and modern day Israel timelines
Understand the covenants made unto Noah, Avraham, Moshe and the new covenant
Is familiar with the Rambam's categorization of the 613 mitzvot
Understands the 13 principles of faith
Understands the very basic distinction between and Oral
Understands protocols of service
Able to recite all blessings of service
Able to recognize all Hebrew letters, able to read and write block Hebrew as well as script Hebrew
Understands fundamentals of respect for women, proper treatment and requirements of placed upon men in honoring women in a holy fashion
Able to locate information if necessary regarding halacha - understands where to go to get the information
Able to perform the Havdalah service in Hebrew and in English (understand protocols and prohibitions)
Understands prohibitions of Shabbat (introduced to the 39 Avot Melacha) and blessings
Understands the significance of Yeshua's place in prophecy as well as in His coming
Understands the Jewishness of Yeshua as portrayed by His words with his disciples and those around Him
Able to express his relationship with HaShem through Yeshua (what it means to be a believer and why)
Able to express how the blood and atonement of Yeshua covers our transgressions and why this is important
Has completed the required commentary on the and Haftorah portion of at least 1000 words
Has completed 20 hours of community service (outside the family structure) (this needs to be listed)
Has attended 13 studies within the community (has written proof of attendance on Tuesdays)
Understands the terms Shacharit, Mincha and Maariv and knows where to find appropriate prayers
I, _____, understand these requirements and will strive to complete these, knowing that they are pertinent and important to becoming a living testament to the Jewish people and a Bar Mitzvah - and also knowing that without their completion I will not be eligible for a Bar Mitzvah. As I complete them and become proficient, I will initial these with my initials truthfully. Before my Bar Mitzvah ceremony I will prove that I have achieved and accomplished all that I have initialed (without swearing or making an oath). This, in effect, will be a witness to the community of my dedication, seriousness and commitment to be a good Jew in the faith and contribute to the community as a young man of the . Name __________________________________ Date _________________ Categorized list of important bnei mitzvah subjects to learn:Prayer- Shema & 3 PassagesDaily & Shabbat Amidah- Pray & Understand- Praise- Petition- ThanksgivingShacharit / Mincha / MaarivPrayer Service- Morning Blessings- Birchat Hashachar- Pesukei D'Zimrah- Blessings of Shema- Shema & Passages- Amidah- Service- Ending Blessings- Misc-- Kaddish Prayers+ BlessingsFood blessings- Hagafen / Wine- Hamotzie / Bread- Hagafen / Grapes- HaEtz - Fruit (of tree)- Mezanot - Grains - Dessert- Shehechol - Meat / Drinks / Everything elseBirchat Hamazon- After eating breadShabbat- Evening Kiddush- Understand Service- HavdalahHoly Days- Rosh Hashana- Yom Kippur- Chanukah- Tu B'Shevat-PurimPilgrimage Festivals/Shalosh Regalim- Sukkot- Pesach- Counting Omer- ShavuotHalakhah- Shabbat - 39 Avot Melacha- Kashrut- Attend Classes- 10 Commandments- Understand and explain- Written / Oral - Mishna & Talmud- 613 Commandments- 13 Principles- Besorah / GospelsYeshua/Mashiach- Messianic Tanakh Passages- Talmudic Passages- Jewishness of Yeshua- Past and Future Coming- AtonementCommunity Service- 20 Hours outside SynagogueSpiritual Life- Able to express relationship with God through Yeshua- Daily Prayer- Daily StudyPrepare for Day of Bar/Bat Mitzvah- Lead / Sing Prayers- / Haftarah / Brit Chadasha Blessings- Chant Reading- learn trope/taamim reading- Haftarah Reading- Write & deliver commentary- Celebration AfterHebrew- Able to read smoothly- Understand basic grammar and vocabulary for prayerJewish History- Jewish Dispersions- Biblical History- Modern History- Nation of Israel- HolocaustThat is more than is required for most Messianic Rabbonim! Much of this has been discussed here on the forum, but nowhere near all. And honestly, while there was more required of me for my s'micha as a Scribe in my previous synagogue, there is quite a bit here that was not required. And honestly, I don't think it important we memorize all the Jewish prayers, or copy Rabinical Judaism in any way. However I do think we should at least be familiar with them. They are great examples of how to pray. And while many may not think they are called to give a commentary, I can tell you there are often great blessings and insights to doing the parashah each week. You do the work, and I guarantee HaShem will bless it. I was on an entirely different track this week, and something I had read over many times before just leapt out at me! Changed everything. That, I guarantee is not me!
We may or may not copy traditional Judaism, but learning about these things at the very least would inform and help shape our own spirituality. And as a guideline to teach our children, as well as a great way to mark a step in young boys transition into manhood, some kind of bar mitzvah ceremony is a great idea. Just a thought.
Dan C
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parashah, and to share a d'rashah. Please keep him in your prayers as he is fine-tuning his preparation this week. Please join us at the synagogue to support him during this season of his life.
