Bar/Bat Mitzvah Policy
Yeshurun Bar Mitzvah Test Syllabus
Yeshurun revamped its Bar Mitzvah test in Autumn 2002.
The following is the syllabus which was approved by the Board of Management in Autumn 2002.
All boys who wish to be Bar Mizvah at Yeshurun must take this test.
If you have any queries, please contact the President
- The Bar Mitzvah test syllabus aims to ensure a good grounding for Bar Mitzvah boys in the basics of Judaism.
The Bar Mitzvah boy will take an oral test approximately six weeks before the time of his Bar Mitzvah. The test will take about half an hour, including putting on and removing tefillin.
- All Bar Mitzvah boys are expected to go to shul as regularly as possible on Shabbos morning during the year before their Bar Mitzvah and every Sunday morning for Shacharis (the second service usually starts at 8.30am) for at least three months before their Bar Mitzvah and to put on Tefillin.
Here are the sections of the syllabus. Sample questions on each section follow at the end.
We are not basing the syllabus or the test on any particular text book.
TEFILLIN
You will be required to demonstrate your ability to both put on and remove your tefillin together with the associated brochos.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
You must know the following:
a) Your Hebrew name
b) The name of your sedrah
c) The names of the 3 sections of the Tanach in order
d) The names of the 5 books of the Chumash in order
e) The names of the 5 Megillos and when they are read
f) The Ten Commandments
YOUR SEDRAH & HAFTORAH
You will be asked to summarise the main points of your entire Bar Mitzvah sedrah and haftorah, regardless of the portion you are actually reading in shul. Your summary should also include the connection between the Sedrah and Haftorah.
THE JEWISH CALENDAR
You will be expected to know the following:
a) The Jewish months in order
b) The dates of all festivals – their rationale, laws and customs
c) The dates of all fasts – their rationale, laws and customs
d) Dates of the special Shabbosos – the four before Pesach plus Shuvah, Nachamu
and Chazon
e) The effects of a Jewish leap year, and the 19 year cycle
THE ORAL LAW (THE MISHNOH AND GEMORROH)
You should know that it was compiled by Rabbi Yehudah, name the six orders of the Mishnah and its relationship with the Gemora.
NERAL BLESSINGS (BROCHOS)
You should know the blessings (brochos) for washing your hands before a meal, and over all food items, as well as being familiar with Birkas Hamozon (Grace After Meals). You must also know the blessing of Shehecheyonu and when it is said, and the blessings for tallis, tefillin and tsitzis.
THE SYNAGOGUE AND TEFILLAH
You should know the following:
a) What's in the synagogue
b) The order of the services for daily prayers, Rosh Chodesh, Shabbos, Yom Tov, Fasts and other special days
c) A synopsis of the contents and meaning of the Shema and midweek Shemoneh Esreh
d) Translation of the first paragraph of the Shema
e) What is Hallel and when it is said – including when to say full vs. half
f) Reading of the Torah - when we layen, the difference between Sedros and Parshios
SHABBOS
General laws and prohibitions
KASHRUS
Its purpose, basic laws, Shechitoh, meat and milk, vegetables
THE OUTWARD SIGNS
Tefillin, Mezuzoh and Tzitzis - their source, contents and laws
SPECIAL EVENTS
Bris Milah, Pidyon Haben, Bar Mitzvah
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Below are some sample questions, provided to give you an idea of the types of question you may be asked. The list is not definitive or exhaustive. You will not be asked all the questions, or even questions on all the sections of the syllabus.
Every boy will be asked to put on his tefillin and say the brochos.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
- When is Megillas Esther read?
- What is the difference between the first 5 commandments and the second five?
- In which sedros do the 10 commandments appear?
- What is the sixth commandment?
YOUR SEDRAH & HAFTORAH
- If applicable you will be asked when else part of your sedrah is read, e.g on which Yom Tov, or fast or on Rosh Chodesh.
THE JEWISH CALENDAR
- What happens when the Fast of Esther falls on Shabbos?
- What about the Mitzvah of Arbo Minim when first day Succos falls on Shabbos?
- When is Shabbos Shuvah?
- Why is it so called?
- When is Shabbos Hagodol?
- What is the extra month?
- How often in the 19 year cycle does a leap year occur?
- When in a leap year is Purim?
GENERAL BLESSINGS
- What are the brochos for wine/bread/sweets etc.?
THE SYNAGOGUE AND TEFILLAH
- What is the light above the Oron Kodesh called?
- What is the cover in front of the Oron Kodesh called?
- Where does the chazan daven from?
- What is a mechitzah?
- What is the Eitz Chaim?
- What is a Keilim Mikveh for?
- Which is the first service of the day?
- What is P'sukei D'zimra?
- At which part of the service do we say Hallel?
- What are the sections of the weekday amidah?
- How many blessings are there in the weekday amidah?
- How many times do you bow when saying the amidah, and when?
- What are the main topics in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 in the shema?
- Apart from Shabbos morning, when do we layen during an ordinary week?
- When do we have to leyan from 3 Sifrei Torah?
- How many people are called up on Rosh Chodesh? (or another fast day or festival)
- Who is called up first?
- What is Hagbo'hoh and Geliloh?
KASHRUS
- What are the main attributes of a kosher animal/fish/fowl?
- What does a shochet do?
THE OUTWARD SIGNS
- When do we not wear tefillin?
- What do tefillin contain?
- How are the contents set out in the shel rosh / shel yad?
- Who writes tefillin / mezuzos?
- What is in a mezuzah?
- Where do we put a mezuzah?
- Where don’t we put a mezuzah?
- What is the brochah said before putting up a mezuzah?
- What is the brochah for tzitzis?
- Why do we wear tzitzis?
SPECIAL EVENTS
- Who did the first bris milah?
- Who normally performs a bris milah?
- At what age does a person usually have a bris?
- Who qualifies for a pidyon haben?
- What is a pidyon haben and why do we have this ceremony?
- What does "Bar Mitzvah" mean?
- What is the main significance of becoming Bar Mitzvah?
