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The
Bar Mitzvoh test syllabus aims to ensure a good grounding for Bar
Mitzvoh boys in the basics of Judaism.
The Bar Mitzvoh boy will take an oral test approximately six
weeks before the time of his Bar Mitzvoh. The test will take about half an hour, including putting on
and removing tefillin.
Here are the sections of the syllabus. Sample questions
on each section follow at the end.
- All Bar Mitzvoh boys are expected to go to shul as regularly as possible
on Shabbos morning during the year before their Bar Mitzvoh and
every Sunday morning for Shacharis (which usually starts at 8.30 am)
for at least three months before their Bar Mitzvoh and to put on
Tefillin.
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 sedroh
c) The names of the 3 sections of the Tanach in order
d) The names of the 5 books of the Chumosh in order
e) The names of the 5 Megillos and when they are read
f) The Ten Commandments
YOUR
SEDROH & HAFTOROH
You will be asked to summarise the main points of your
entire Bar Mitzvoh sedroh and Haftoroh, regardless of the portion you
are actually reading in shul. Your summary should also include the
connection between the Sedroh and Haftoroh.
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 Shuvoh,
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 Yehudoh,
name the six orders of the Mishnoh and its relationship with the
Gemorroh.
GENERAL
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 TEFILLOH
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
Shemonoh 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 Toroh - 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 Miloh, Pidyon Haben, Bar Mitzvoh
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
5?
- In which sedros do the 10 commandments appear?
- What is the sixth commandment?
YOUR
SEDROH & HAPHTOROH
- If applicable you will be asked when else part of
your sedroh 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 Mitzvoh of Arbo Minim when first day Succos falls on
Shabbos?
- When is Shabbos Shuvoh?
- 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 mechitzoh?
- 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 amidoh?
- How many blessings are there in the weekday amidoh?
- How many times do you bow when saying the amidoh, 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 Toroh?
- How many people are called up on Rosh Chodesh? (or another fast day or
festival)
- Who is called up first?
- What is Hagbo'oh 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 mezuzoh?
- Where do we put a mezuzoh?
- Where don’t we put a mezuzoh?
- What is the brochoh said before putting up a mezuzoh?
- What is the brochoh for tzitzis?
- Why do we wear tzitzis?
SP
ECIAL EVENTS
- Who did the first bris miloh?
- Who normally performs a bris miloh?
- 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 Mitzvoh” mean?
- What is the main significance of becoming Bar Mitzvoh?
We are not basing the syllabus or the test on any particular text book. |
Yeshurun