Bar and Bat Mitzvah Invitations - Everything You Need to Know

Tips and Information for Creating and Purchasing Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations.

If you translate Bar Mitzvah literally, it means "son" (bar) or "daughter" (bat) "of the Commandments." It is to acknowledge and recognize one of the most significant times in a boy or girl's life. When a girl turns 12, and a boy turns 13, they come of age and are recognized as adults in the Jewish community. This means that they are now held accountable for religious obligations.

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is celebrated with a ceremony whereby the son or daughter is called up for an Aliyah before the Torah to recite passages in the Torah. Celebrating the Bar/Bat Mitzvah has become a rite of passage for boys and girls in the Jewish community, as it shows their accomplishment for memorizing the passages in the Torah, and more importantly, signifying that the boy has become a man and a girl has become a woman now responsible for religious obligations. The bar mitzvah invitations are always placed with high importance. This invitation will not only go to the boy or girl's friends, but also to the proud parents' relatives and rabbi's in the synagogue.

Symbols on the Bat and Bar Mitzvah Invitations

It is customary to print graphics associated with the bar mitzvah on the invitations. This will give the invitation an immediate differentiation from any other type of invitation, to reflect its significance and religious implications.

The Tefillin
The tefillin are two small black boxes with black straps attached to them. One to two months before the the boy's thirteenth birthday, he will start the religious ritual of placing one box on their head and tie the other one on their arm each weekday morning. The Tefillin has bible passages hand written by scribes on them, and this is often an image printed on the Bar Mitzvah invitations.


The Tallit
The tallit is a Jewish prayer shawl worn while reciting morning prayers (Shacharit) as well as in the synagogue on Sabbath and holidays. The tallit has special twined and knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to its four corners. Parents usually purchase it with the tefillin for the Bar Mitzvah and therefore the tallit is also a symbolic graphic often printed on the invitations.


The Kiddush cup
The Kiddush cup is a silver goblet used to recite the Kiddush, which is reciting a blessing over wine or grape juice. It is used every Shabbot after the age of thirteen, and therefore is a symbolic image on the Bar Mitzvah invitations.

Star of David
The Star of David is a symbol of Jewish identity. It is named after King David in the bible. This symbol can also be printed on the invitations to show that the boy or girl has now officially come of age and will be regarded differently in the Jewish society.


Text of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Invitation
The text of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Invitation will often include the boy or girl's name in Hebrew. Below are some ideas for how the invitation wording can be printed:

With great pride and joy
we invite you to share a special moment in our lives
when our son, Randy
will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah
on Saturday, the eighteenth of May
Two thousand and two
at ten o'clock in the morning
East Austin Synagogue
39 Yaupon Creek Drive
Austin, Texas

Jody and Alex Johnson

OR

Memories are created by sharing
special moments with loving
family and friends
Please join us as our son
Nathaniel Evan
is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah
Saturday, March 5, 2005
at 10:00 in the morning
Temple Emeth
South and Grove Streets
South Brookline, Massachusetts

Kevin and Aileen Stevens

OR

With the richness of tradition
and the promise of tomorrow
we invite you to share
this special moment as our son
David James
becomes a Bar Mitzvah
on Saturday, the eighth of December
at ten o'clock in the morning
Congregation Emanu El
Houston, Texas

Eric & Jacky Bradford

OR

Mary & George Titleman
cordially invite you to the
Bar Mitzvah of their son
Joshua Michael
Saturday, the seventh of October
two thousand and six
at eleven o'clock in the morning
Beth Israel Synagogue
3706 Crondall Lane
Owings Mills, Maryland

OR

With great pleasure we invite you
to share our happiness
at the Bar Mitzvah
of our son
Joseph Norman
on Saturday, September 24, 2005
at 10:00 in the morning
Temple Emanuel
Lowell, Massachusetts

Mindy and Derrick McLean


Save the Date Cards for Bar or Bat Mitzvah Invitations

It has become increasingly popular to send save the date cards for bar mitzvahs because your child may have many friends that will be holding the Bar Mitzvah around the same time because they are the same age. Sending Save the date cards will allow their friends and the parents to hold the date for your child.

The save the date invitations should be mailed at least four months before the celebration date. Be sure to include the phrase "Save the Date' and "Formal Invitation to Follow" on the card because you do not want your guests to think this card is the actual invitation. There should not be an RSVP card or RSVP date on the save the date invitations. This is a mistake that is commonly made. The save the date invitation is meant for your guests be aware of your celebration date, there is no need for your guests to respond.

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Stephanie Wong owner and chief designer for Stephita Wedding Invitations and Inspired Brides.

For more information visit Stephita Invitations or Inspired Brides