Overwhelmed by it all? Not to worry!

Six-month and two-month "check-in" meetings: Six months prior to your simha, we are available to meet with you to hear about your plans as well as provide any assistance you might need. Two months prior to the event you will be meeting with our Facilities Coordinator to plan your setup and to answer your last minute questions. Of course, feel free to call at 408.366.9106 at any time with any and all concerns. Mazel Tov!

Use the following table of contents to find the information you need:

REQUIREMENTS...

Announcement in the Beth David STAR: Please type your announcement, submit a disk or send an e-mail directly to STAR editor, . The announcement should be a couple of quick sentences (see other STAR issues for examples). Announcements, along with a picture of your child, must be submitted to Bettina (or the Beth David office) no later than the first of the month PRIOR to your event (i.e., announcements for October B'nei Mitzvah should be in no later than September 1st).

Kashrut: Beth David has a detailed Kashrut policy. Please refer to our Kashrut policy when planning any event that includes food or drink.

Kitchen Use: Beth David keeps a fully kosher kitchen. As such, all kitchen work must be supervised by a Mashgiah. A Mashgiah is a person appointed by a rabbi (Rabbi Pressman) whose responsibility is to ensure that all food brought into the kitchen--as well as all food preparation--conforms to Jewish dietary laws. Our current Mashgiah is Sue Glettig (408.366.9113 or 408.249.8835) and she will be more than happy to advise you regarding your food plans for your event. In planning your event, you may interface with the kitchen in the following three ways:

• If you personally wish to bake for your event, you may bake at home using NEW single-use pans, but you must do the plattering and cutting at Beth David under the supervision of the Mashgiah. You must call in advance to arrange for kitchen time to cut and platter.
• If you personally wish to cook for your event with the help of your family and community, you may bring your kosher ingredients to the kitchen and cook using the facility. If you are unsure what ingredients are kosher or not, please consult the Mashgiah and refer to our Kashrut policy. You must call in advance to arrange for kitchen supervision time.
• You may also arrange for a caterer to cook for your event (see below).

Catering: There are specific caterers who are approved to work at Beth David. You may hire any caterer who is on our approved list. Our Mashgiah, Sue, is also able to offer catering services. To utilize our services, please contact at 408.366.9106.

Friday Night Oneg: Our Friday night services are now at 6:30 pm so we no longer have an Oneg on Friday night. The one exception is on the 4th Friday of the month when we hold our Shir Shabbat service at 8:00 pm. If your Bar/Bat mitzvah falls on the 4th Shabbat of the month, you may be asked to help sponsor the Friday night oneg by baking some pareve (non-dairy) cookies and cakes. The Mashgiah will discuss this with you if your help is needed.

Shabbat Kiddush: It is customary for the family of the Bar/Bat mitzvah to sponsor the Kiddush on Shabbat morning after services. You are not required to do anything elaborate; a “Simple Kiddush” with cakes, cookies, challah and wine is perfectly acceptable. Anything else you want to add is your choice. We will gladly assist you in making these decisions and help you know what is expected. As far as numbers, plan on 150 congregants in addition to the number of guests you invite. All food must arrive at Beth David before Shabbat begins on Friday.

Wine: All wine and juice used for Kiddush must be kosher and be made of grapes (not berries). Any other wine is acceptable for use during meals.  There are now many excellent Kosher wines on the market. We encourage (though do not require) that you include a Kosher wine in your selection.

Sharing Shabbat Services: Sometimes our community is fortunate to have another event on the same day as your event. With our calendar as full as it is, often we will have to schedule an aufruf (pre-wedding aliyah) or a baby-naming on the same day as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Sometimes the opportunity arises to share the Kiddush as well. We can help coordinate this with you. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Evening/Sunday Parties: Beth David strives to make itself available for evening b'nei mitzvah parties and we can usually reserve the Social Hall for your event; however, please remember we are a very busy congregation and many of the weekends throughout the year will have other Beth David events scheduled as well as b'nei mitzvah parties. Please contact the office as soon as possible (9 months in advance is not too early!) to schedule your time for the Social Hall. Please be aware that special events or large congregational events will sometimes take priority use of the Social Hall.    

Extra Food Service Staff: Depending on your event, you may need extra kitchen or serving staff. Extra staff are often arranged (and charged) through your caterer, but we can do it for you if needed. Please contact at 408.366.9106 to discuss staffing arrangements.

Facility Plans/Layout: Two months before your event, please discuss your table arrangements with our Facilities Coordinator. We have diagrams of the floor plan, know the approximate scale of tables, and will be very happy to help with the layout. Some of the caterers on our list work here often, are very familiar with our facility, and may be willing to help with table arrangements as well. It is vital that you help us with these layouts to make sure our diagram meets your needs. These layouts must be submitted to our office a minimum of 3 business days prior to your event.

Paper Goods: The family is responsible for all paper goods, unless you are having CBD cater the entire event.

Programs: Many families prepare an individualized program for their event. will be happy to provide some ideas as to content and format.

Candy Tossing: There is a custom some people follow of throwing candy at the conclusion of the haftarah. This custom is NOT practiced at Beth David for b'nei mitzvah. We do, however, allow candy tossing in the case of an aufruf (pre-wedding aliyah).     

Rehearsal: A one-hour rehearsal will be held at 11:00 a.m. on the Friday before your date. This hour is for the student, family, relatives and clergy to walk through the service and practice honors like opening the ark or dressing the Torah. You may also take pictures on the same day. Schedule your photographer for before or after your rehearsal time, and book that time with the office to make sure the sanctuary will be available.

MAZON: Congregation Beth David is a MAZON Synagogue Partner. As a way of enhancing the meaning of your child's bar/bat mitzvah, MAZON encourages each family to donate 3% of the cost of the simha to partner with them to prevent hunger. Your child may also choose to donate a portion of his/her gifts to MAZON or to their mitzvah project (if they have one). For more information about MAZON, please call Abe Bromberg at 408.253.0826.

Rabbi Consultation:  It is necessary to meet with both Rabbis one week before your event. This will be the time to review your student’s speech, ask questions, etc.

Overwhelmed? Not to worry!
We are available to meet with you to hear about your plans, as well as to provide any assistance you might need. One or two months prior to the event, plan to meet with the appropriate staff member(s) to complete your setup and to answer any last minute questions. Of course, feel free to call the office at any time with any and all concerns.

B'NEI MITZVAH COSTS AND FEES...

This list outlines the various Congregation Beth David costs and fees involved with your simha:

Member in Good Standing: To maintain your simha date, you must be a "Member in Good Standing" of Beth David. Please see that your dues and other financial obligations are up-to-date or that arrangements have been made if that's not possible at this time. Contact , Beth David's bookkeeper, directly at 408.366.9109.

B’nei Mitzvah Fee / Facility Usage Fee: This fee totals $1050 and breaks down as follows:

[1] $750 is applied to all b’nei mitzvah families and includes all tutoring and ritual preparation. Please pay this as soon as you see it appear on your statement (generally three months before your child begins bar/bat mitzvah tutoring).
[2] $300 is applied to all b’nei mitzvah families to cover the facility usage costs for the kiddush luncheon that generally follows the service (does not include food or extra staff).
[2-A] If there is to be an additional evening party or celebration on the following day, an additional $300 will be charged as another facility fee. 

Food Costs: You are asked to provide two challahs and two bottles each of kosher wine and kosher grape juice for Saturday Kiddush. Other foods such as cookies, cakes or full meals are up to you at your cost. (Beth David is not involved with catering fees unless you choose to use our services. If so, please discuss with at 408.366.9106.)

Extra Kitchen/Serving Staff: Kitchen/serving staff is available for hire. We charge for a minimum of 4 hours each. If you are going to need extra kitchen or serving staff, please contact at 408.366.9106.

Tablecloths: Each family is responsible for providing tablecloths for their simha (as well as paper goods).

Flowers - Basket Holders and Small Vases: FREE! Beth David will provide basket holders for bima arrangements as well as small vases for table arrangements at no cost. The cost of flowers will vary according to your florist and what type of arrangements you request.

Additional Decorations: If you wish to provide additions such as decorative guest towels or soaps, you may do so at your expense. Set up and removal of these items are your responsibility.

Invitations and Kippot: There are a variety of choices you can make, each with their own associated costs.

Programs: The cost of paper, printing and folding is your responsibility.

RESOURCES

Only caterers on this list will be allowed to use Beth David's kitchen and supplies. All cooking must be done on our premises, under supervision, unless other arrangements are approved in advance. Caterers must contact the office to schedule kitchen time.

Kosher Wine

There is usually a selection of kosher wine available at local Trader Joe's supermarkets, Lucky Stores (El Paseo & Los Altos locations) and Mollie Stone's in Palo Alto. A large selection of kosher wine can also be found at:

Approved Bakeries

Oneg Shabbat on Friday night is ALWAYS pareve (nondairy). Please specify when ordering baked goods.

Invitations and Accessories

Music

Rabbi Pressman will work with all musicians (including the following musicians) willing and able to play appropriate music for B'nei Mitzvah gatherings.

Florists

Many families provide flowers for the bima. Though this is certainly not required, it is a nice touch. The most common choices are to have two arrangements, one in front of each podium, OR one big arrangement in front of the torah reading table. Certain florists, such as those listed below, have worked at Beth David often, and will know what works well. You must schedule flowers for early afternoon delivery before Shabbat begins on Friday. Saturday morning deliveries are not acceptable.

Photographers

Supermarkets

There are a number of supermarkets/grocery stores that have a large selection of Kosher foods. Here is a partial list of those stores: