Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guide - Temple Ner Tamid

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guidebook (v1.0) Page 12 of 16If you have guests who require the use of a wheelchair, please let the office know inadvance. We have a portable bimah that sits on the floor – which you may choose to use ifyou have honorees that cannot climb the stairs to the upper bimah.The Bar/Bat Mitzvah generally invites his/her Religious School classmates. It is proper toinvite all classmates and not to exclude any. We do not want anyone’s feelings to be hurt.Please do not remove food or flowers during Shabbat.After a meal where bread is served, it is Jewish law to recite Birkat Hamazon (the grace aftermeals). The Temple will provide laminated cards with the blessings (in Hebrew and intransliteration). If you have family members or friends who wish to lead the communalgrace, they are welcome to do so.Candlelighting ceremonies are not allowed on Shabbat. Other ceremonies may besubstituted – i.e., flags or glasses of wine may be used.Only mylar balloons may be used as centerpieces or decorations following a morningservice. Any type of balloon is allowed after an evening service.The floor plan for the Social Hall must be submitted to the Temple office at least one weekbefore the function.POLICIES ON INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FOR SHABBATAll joyous occasions, such as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, should be conducted in a dignified mannerincluding appropriate dress attire, music, and dance – what the ancient Rabbis called "shvut,"namely, that which seems to fit the spirit of Shabbat.Live, instrumental music is permitted as an enhancement to a Shabbat/holiday service, and toincrease the joy of a simcha. If you would like to have instrumental music played either during orafter a service, you must let us know in advance what sort of music you want. We do not think thatwe can pre-define every piece of music that will be acceptable--it would certainly be a very difficultundertaking. Also, by not legislating to the dotted "i," we hope to "accentuate the positive,” ratherthan stressing possible evasions and excesses.As far as liturgical music is concerned, the Cantor has asked that we make a slight distinctionbetween Friday night and Shabbat morning--our Friday night service is more open to variety thanShabbat morning, when the traditional "nusach" (prayer mode) has priorityThe Temple has established certain music policies. It is our hope that these policies (many ofwhich are similar within other Conservative synagogues) will enhance the prayer experience atTNT and encourage many more families to use the synagogue for their receptions.Only traditional Jewish music or Jewish folk dancing music or traditional Israeli music ispermitted on Shabbat. Secular music (i.e., hip hop) is not permitted on Shabbat.Secular or ballroom dancing is not permitted.Boom boxes of any style may not be used.Any instrumental music played during a service must be approved by the Rabbi and Cantor.Instrumental music to be played at a simcha must be approved in advance by the Rabbi andCantor or by their appointed representative.Temple Ner Tamid ● 368 Lowell Street ● Peabody, MA 01960 ● 978-532-1293templenertamid@verizon.net ● www.templenertamid.com