May 11, 2024
Leo, Marc and Marla invite you to a Brit Mitzvah filled with music.
We would love to see everyone – but we understand that it may not be possible. If you can’t make it, that’s ok – the service will be livestreamed and we’ll have the link posted here that week.
Friday Night
Shabbat @ Temple B’nai Abraham – 7:30 p.m.
- 58 Crosswicks St, Bordentown, NJ 08505
Saturday Morning
Service at Temple B’nai Abraham – 10:00 a.m.
- 58 Crosswicks St, Bordentown, NJ 08505
Saturday Night
Reception at Paradise Farms – 6:00 p.m.
- 139 Bordentown Georgetown Rd, Chesterfield, NJ 08515
Airport Information
Bordentown is exactly halfway between New York and Philadelphia. Although there are a limited amount of flights coming in to Trenton, NJ (through Spirit Air only), your best bets are to fly into Philadelphia or Trenton, NJ. Both are 40-45 from Bordentown.
If several people are flying into one of these airports at around the same time, I can arrange a shuttle to pick up and drop off. Otherwise renting a car is probably best.
Directions from Philadelphia Airport: https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Philadelphia-Airport-PHL/Bordentown#r/Drive/s/0
Directions from Trenton Airport: https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Newark-Airport-EWR/Bordentown#r/Drive/s/0
Hotel Information
Best Western Bordentown
1068 US-206
Bordentown, NJ 08505
(609) 298-8000
Single $129.49/per night
Double $139.49/per night
Mention Hoffman/Silverman event to get rate
Must book by April 26th
Can cancel with no penalty up to 72 hours before booking.
If you have trouble with stairs, request a first floor room.
Alternate Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Bordentown*
195 US-130 Bordentown, NJ 08505
(609) 817-0070
*no special rate
Livestream
WHAT IS A BRIT MITZVAH?
We are so pleased to have you with us as we celebrate Leo’s B’rit Mitzvah. As an adult in the Jewish community, Leo will accept the responsibilities of being Jewish. He will wear a “tallit” (prayer shawl) for the first time. The fringes which hang from the four corners, symbolize the 613 mitzvot or commandments. Leo will lead us in the service, including many of our traditional prayers. He will chant from the Torah.
In addition to these things,
Leo will teach us about today’s reading by delivering a d’var torah (words of Torah-Sermon) and conveying what this experience means to him.
The Morning Service
The Shacharit section of the service begins with several prayers. Among these prayers is the recitation of the Shema. The Shema is a statement of our Jewish faith, reflecting that there is an eternal covenant which connects us to G-d. The English translation for the Shema is , Hear, O’Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.
The Amidah
The Amidah is a prayer that will be led by the B’rit Mitzvah. Afterwards, the remaining part of the prayer is said silently to oneself while standing. This is the part of the service where we reflect on the greatness of G-d and as well as our human needs, as we present our silent petitions.
The Torah Service
Leo will receive the scroll which contains the Torah, consisting of the five books of Moses and is the most treasured possession of the Jewish people. Each Shabbat, (Sabbath) Jewish congregations around the world read or chant the same parsha (portion) from the Torah. In many ways, this ties us together as a Jewish community. Today it will be Leo’s turn to be called to the Torah to chant his portion, Kedoshim. To begin this part of the service, the Torah is removed from the Ark and symbolically passed. The B’rit Mitzvah is then given the honor of carrying the Torah around the sanctuary where members of the congregation will “greet” the Torah scroll by kissing the edge of their tallit first and touching the Torah, or the edge of their prayer book and then touching the Torah in that way.
The reading of the Torah portion is broken into sections. Before and after each section is read,
a blessing is recited by a family member or friend. This honor is called receiving an aliyah.
The last section read from the Torah portion, is called the maftir, and is chanted by the B’rit Mitzvah.
The Haftarah
Leo will perform the Haftarah which is traditionally an additional reading from the book of Prophets, but at our Temple is often a personal reading that has meaning to the B’rit Mitzvah student.
D’var Torah
Leo will conclude the final requirement in our synagogue of a B’rit Mitzvah, as he delivers a sermon, or his D’var Torah, teaching us something about the portion that he chanted in Hebrew.
Concluding Prayers
The service concludes with additional prayers, including the Aleinu, the Mourner’s Kaddish,
(remembering those who have passed away) and the concluding prayer and song, Adon Olam.
Kiddish
Following the service there is a Kiddish which is Challah (braided egg bread) and wine shared by all the congregation and guests after the blessing is said by our B’rit Mitzvah.