This year we are starting a new requirement for the Hebrew school children in grades three through six. In the past bar and bat mitzvah students needed to attend 13 Shabbat services during the year prior to bar or bat mitzvah. We have found over the years that many children had never attended a Shabbat service before this point. Since the primary part of our Hebrew curriculum in grades three through six is prayer, the school committee thought it would be beneficial for the children to attend services starting in third grade. This way it gives them a frame of reference when they are learning the prayers and they know that services are not just what they do on Sunday mornings.

During the year the third graders must attend three services, fourth graders four services, fifth graders five services and sixth graders six services. The service can be either a Friday night or Saturday morning service or Sukkot, Simhat Torah or Purim. The high holidays are not included in this list.

Each Shabbat or holiday service we will have four boxes on the gift shop case. Children will take a ticket from the box for their grade. They will write down their name and the Torah portion (or holiday) for that service. At the end of the service they will give their ticket to either of the Rabbis or to me and, on Monday, we will record who was at each service.

It is not a big commitment but one that we feel is very important. We urge your cooperation with this project. For the sixth graders, many of you will be on the sign up sheet for your bar/bat mitzvah requirement. You can sign in for both once you are on the list! We hope that parents will become more comfortable with services as well as the children. We have a family service once a month so, for the younger students it does not have to be a late night.

If you have any questions, please let me know. We are excited to get this started. Beginning this Shabbat the boxes will be out and both rabbis and I will be ready to collect tickets from whoever attends.