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B’nai Mitzvah Siddur Preparation

One of the unique parts of having a bar or bat mitzvah at CRC is that each student creates his or her own prayer book, called a siddur, to be used during the service. While the Shabbat prayers remain the same, each student personalizes the book with that week's Torah and Haftarah portions and their own readings and images.

CRC's Publications Coordinator, Connie Joseph, will help you with preparing your siddur. The information and files on this page will help you get started by downloading a template as well as the Hebrew fonts used for the prayers in the template.

Step 1: Download the fonts to your computer:

Windows users: The fonts below belong in the Font folder located in your Control Panel.

   CLICK TO DOWNLOAD HEBREW FONTS

 

Step 2:  Download and open the siddur on your PC or MAC:

  1. Right click the appropriate file below and choose SAVE AS. (Select a folder on your computer.)

Morning Service Siddur

Havdalah Siddur

  1. To open the siddur, go to the folder you selected and double-click on BM Siddur 2009 or BM Siddur 2009 - Havdalah. Do you see Hebrew? If not, repeat the steps above to download and add the Hebrew fonts. If you continue to have problems, please contact Connie Joseph at (314) 361-1564 ext. 100.

 

Step 3: Customize your siddur

Connie can help you with customizing your siddur. Below are sources for some of the information you will need to make the siddur your own!

  1. To obtain your TORAH and HAFTARAH PORTIONS (in Hebrew and English), click here.

  2. To obtain your HEBREW NAME (in Hebrew) click here to view a list of Hebrew names from which you may copy and paste into your siddur. Contact Connie Joseph at (314) 361-1564 ext. 100 or connie@centralreform.org if your name is not on the list.

  3. To find your HEBREW B'NAI MITZVAH DATE, click here. (Be sure to check the "After sunset" box if it is an havdalah event.)

  4. If you have questions about the TRANSLITERATION and/or CAPITALIZATION of Hebrew words, click here.

  5. Need GRAPHICS/PHOTOS? Try these sites:

 

Step 4: Print your siddur

You will need to have your siddur printed after the final rehearsal and before the service. This can be done at CRC or through a commercial printer. If you choose a commercial printer, we recommend getting quotes and scheduling the printing prior to the last rehearsal, to ensure that the printer is able to get the books to you on time. If CRC is printing your siddur, please inform Connie at least two - three months in advance so she may allot sufficient time to edit, format and print. Remember to print enough books for your invited guests, plus about 60 additional books for the CRC members who will attend the service that morning.

To discuss having CRC print your siddur, Contact Connie Joseph at (314) 361-1564 ext. 100 or connie@centralreform.org.
 

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