The invitation you are holding is not just an invitation ...



A note to Ethan’s friends....

The invitation you are holding is not just an invitation to a party. It is especially an invitation to the Ethan’s Bar Mitzvah ceremony on Saturday morning. In case you haven’t been to a synagogue, here are some really important things you need to know.

*WHAT TO WEAR Girls, don’t wear something too prom-like or too revealing. Skirts should be a decent length and tops should be modest as well. Make sure your shoulders are completely covered by something. It’s sometimes cold so bring a sweater if you think you might need one. Boys should wear trousers, a long sleeve shirt with a tie, nice shoes and a belt.

*ABOUT THE CELL PHONE Leave it at home! If you absolutely can’t, make sure it is TURNED OFF. Don’t bring any other electronics like games or iPods. Texting is a huge no-no, so don’t even try it! If you need to call your parents for any reason, go outside and call QUIETLY from there. It is a rule that you are not supposed to use a phone in the building during Shabbat but you can call your parents if it’s an emergency.

*WHERE AND WHEN Your parents can drop you off in the front of the synagogue at 9:30 (but Ethan won’t get started until about 10:00). They should plan to pick you up at the same spot at 1:00.

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*ONE RULE YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS Don’t write or draw anything in the synagogue during Shabbat. Yes, it’s really a rule.

*A RULE FOR BOYS (Girls too if you want) Even if you’re not Jewish, you need to wear a kippah (the circle “hat”) when you are in the building. An usher will hand you one as you enter the building. They will show you how to wear it if you ask.

*WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BORED You might get bored, to be honest because the service is in Hebrew for the most part. Don’t start squirming or chatting or disrupting other people or running in the hall. Instead, look through the books in the pews. Try to learn Hebrew! If you get REALLY bored and Ethan isn’t reading at the time, quietly leave the sanctuary and quietly walk in the hall for a couple of minutes. (When you come back, the usher might ask you to wait a minute before you sit down again).

HOW TO ACT AROUND THE FOOD

➢ Be on your best behavior, of course!

➢ Take only what you are going to eat. Take only 2-3 desserts at first

➢ Be respectful to everyone, but particularly to the elderly people.

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