frequently asked questions

what is a Bat Mitzvah?

In simple terms, it’s a Jewish religious ceremony for a child who is either almost-13, or older.

The more complex explanation is that this 13-year-old leads the ceremony, signaling their growing maturity and transition towards adulthood. It’s also seen as participating in a generational chain of tradition, and a commitment to embodying important values such as prayer, education, charity, good deeds, and caring for one’s community and all who belong to it.

Technically, the event is not actually what is called the Bat Mitzvah. The person who is having the special ceremony is becoming a Bat Mitzvah. The terminology is: Bat Mitzvah (daughter of the commandment), Bar Mitzvah (son of the commandment), and B’nai Mitzvah (for those who identify as non-binary, and this is also the plural form).

At Rodef Sholom, a B’nai Mitzvah service lasts about one and a half (1-1/2) hours.

and what about the party?!

Typically, some sort of celebration happens after this big milestone event. In our case, first there will be a light luncheon immediately following the morning ceremony — because food helps us celebrate! And also because we take on the responsibility of feeding any other members of the congregation who have joined us for the ceremony. Then, we all go home to rest.

For Emmy’s special day, we’ll keep the celebrations coming with a Grammy-Award-themed party in the Social Hall at the temple. It will start at 5pm and will finish around 9:30pm. There will be snacks, appetizers, food stations for dinner, mocktails, cocktails, wine and more. There will be music, dancing, games, and even more fun (but we don’t want to spoil the surprises!).

Please come dressed to party like it’s a night at the Grammys — and don’t forget your dancing shoes!

is there anything special that we should know about being inside a Jewish synagogue?

First off, “synagogue” is just another word for “temple,” where Jewish people come together. And while we’re at it, “sanctuary” is the word for the actual room within the temple where services are held.

There are some actions and behaviors that are not customary inside of the synagogue’s sanctuary. Here are some good ones to know:

  • For a momentous occasion such as this, we typically show our respect for this spiritual place by dressing up a little more than normal for the ceremony (i.e. not casual dress; no shorts or sports jerseys or spaghtetti straps).

  • It’s also not customary to applaud in synagogue, so we shout out “Yasher Koach!” meaning “May your strength be firm!” when we want to show appreciation for a job well done.

what do I do if I have questions about the details of emmy’s Bat Mitzvah weekend?

Please feel free to email me with questions!
ali_stone@mac.com

what are some other cities and towns I can visit while in the bay area?

We definitely recommend making a ‘whole trip’ out of your visit to Marin this August, if you can make that happen. There is so much to do and see in the Bay Area and beyond. Here are just a few things …

San Francisco

Of course, there’s always something interesting happening in San Francisco; the SFMOMA, Contemporary Jewish Museum, the de Young Museum, and the Legion of Honor all offer amazing collections (and some fascinating architecture too!).

With the kids, make sure to visit the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, eat at their delicious cafeteria, and then finish off the day with a spin around the carousel at Koret Playground nearby. Or, visit the Children’s Creativity Museum in the SOMA neighborhood near downtown — they’ve got a carousel too, and an amazing urban playground area. Then walk across Howard Street to the Yerba Buena Gardens, where there’s a beautiful waterfall fountain installation honoring MLK Jr., and some food options.

There are amazing restaurants in San Francisco, landmarks, cool sites to visit, and funky neighborhoods to explore.

Marin County

Marin is home to the cities and towns of Sausalito, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, San Rafael, Novato, and many more incredible towns in West Marin. Everything is pretty close together — sometimes you can drive through an entire town in less than five minutes — so don’t be afraid to go exploring in other towns. Though some trips out to West Marin towns can take a bit longer. Each Marin County town has a unique feeling — whether it’s a cute downtown, beautiful views, incredible hikes, or waterfront walks.

Speaking of hikes, there are over 600 miles of amazing hiking trails in Marin County. Many converge on some part of Mt. Tamalpais, Marin’s big landmark. Check out this link for trail information https://www.alltrails.com/lists/marin-county-top-trails.

Wine Country

Sonoma, Napa, Healdsburg, Russian River, Calistoga, Glen Ellen … etc. etc. There is a cornucopia of incredible wineries just North of Marin. Always an incredible trip filled with beautiful scenery, warm weather, and amazing food.

Coastal Visits

Both in Marin County and North (and South too!), there are some incredible coastal spots to visit: Rodeo Beach, Muir Beach, Muir Woods (you must have a reservation to visit!), Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Pt. Reyes, Inverness, Tomales Bay (oysters!), Bodega Bay, Sea Ranch, Mendocino, and beyond … and all the smaller towns in between.

Not to mention the beautiful, and slightly more inland, Guerneville, Occidental, Forestville, Sebastopol, and more, in the Russian River area.

And South of San Francisco you’ll find these amazing coastal towns with gorgeous Highway 1 drives: Moss Beach, Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!), and Capitola. WARNING! There are some closures on Highway 1 from landslides, so be sure to check driving directions before visiting.

Lake Tahoe

If you want to see a gorgeous lake tucked between majestic mountains, head to Lake Tahoe. It’s a three hour drive in the summertime. You can swim in the lake, and the hikes and trails are stunning. It’s one of THE most beautiful places.