Shelter Rock Jewish Center

Under the direction of our Cantor, T. Shalom Cohen our Bar and Bat Mitzvah program is thriving. Students meet with the Cantor or one of the assistant tutors from the Jewish Theological Seminary regularly to learn their Torah and Haftarah portions and other parts of the service. The Cantor becomes directly involved with each student at least six weeks prior to their simcha. Rabbi Cohen is also involved with each family and assists in the development and preparation of the D'var Torah.

Our program fosters an atmosphere where the students and family develop a relationship with the synagogue clergy that hopefully will last after their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Our unique advisor program adds another dimension to the experience for the family of the student. It introduces them to an involved congregant who can aid in their preparation and make them feel comfortable at Shelter Rock. New advisors for students are welcomed and needed. Please contact Michael Harrison if you are interested in helping.

Almost every culture has some kind of coming-of-age ritual that reflects the values and ideals the adults in that culture hope their children will grow up to accept and transmit to their own children. In some cultures, this ritual involves a test of physical strength. In others, it is a matter of testing a child's ability to survive on his or her own. For Jews, however, the ritual is deceptively simple. A child comes forward and reads from a Torah scroll, and then chants a lesson from the Prophets. With this, a boy becomes a man in the eyes of the community and a girl becomes a woman, not because it is so daunting or so difficult, but because by reading aloud from Scripture, the child takes his or her place in the stream of Jewish culture and becomes a part of Jewish history. By becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a child enters the Jewish future by embracing the Jewish past.

— Rabbi Martin S. Cohen

I welcome you to our program. It is my hope that you and your family will have an enjoyable, exciting and memorable experience as you prepare for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah. My primary goal is to teach your children how to learn. It is my desire that every child that passes through the program at the Shelter Rock Jewish Center will take skills with them that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. I believe that the greatest tool for learning is experience. Attending Shabbat services at Shelter Rock as a family will enhance your Bar or Bat Mitzvah experience ten-fold. The opportunity to sit, sing and just "be" with your family and child at Shabbat services is something that your child will remember for years to come and will enrich your appreciation of Judaism.

My door is always open to you and I hope that you will share your feedback with me and bring me your questions. It is my desire to constantly strive to improve our program and to make a wonderful thing even better.

B' Shalom, — T. Shalom Cohen

Click here for honors form for Shabbat bar/bat mitzvah service. .