Being called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah or as a Bat Mitzvah is a major event in a child’s life and represents a giant leap toward adulthood. Generally, to celebrate the event, a Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah party is hosted by the child’s parents and it’s traditional to send out paper Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah invitations. However, what wording should you use on a Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah invitation? While the details are a must, what else should the invitations reflect? Here are some tips and ideas that make your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah invites fabulous!
Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah Invitation Wording Basics
Wording for a Bar Mitzvah invitation or a Bat Mitzvah invitation must include the basic details of the celebration. For example, the wording must include the date, time, and synagogue for the service.
It also must contain the child’s first, and often middle name, and it needs to contain the hosting parent’s names (first and last names).
It is extremely important to focus on these details before fleshing out any other desired wording to ensure that guests know where and when the event will be.
Beyond the details, Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah invitation wording often contains a message of pride, joy, and/or tradition.
Here is an example of basic formal Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah invitation wording:
| Please share in our pride and joy as our son Zachary John (Optional Hebrew name) is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah Saturday, the twenty-fifth of August two thousand twenty-four at nine o’clock in the morning Congregation Har Sinai 1234 Westwood Drive Scarsdale, New York (Optional: Kiddush luncheon to follow) Ilene and Josh Weiss | Please share in our pride and joy as our daughter Rachel Rebecca (Optional Hebrew name) is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah Saturday, the twenty-fifth of August two thousand twenty-four at half past nine in the morning Congregation Har Sinai 1234 Westwood Drive Scarsdale, New York Ilene and Josh Weiss |
Make sure that the address listed for the location is correct. Customers often misspel location names and location addresses and only notice after the cards have been produced.
The above date and time is written formally. That means that all numbers are spelled out. Also, there are no abbreviations in the address either. Zip codes are not included with addresses on invitations.
As with all invitation wording, much of the punctuation is left off. For example, periods or commas at the ends of sentences are generally not included. You can include exclamation marks for emphasis though.
Here is an example of basic informal Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah invitation wording:
| Please share in our pride and joy as our son Zachary John (Optional Hebrew name) is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah Saturday, August 25, 2017 at 9:00 am Congregation Har Sinai 1234 Westwood Dr. Scarsdale, NY (Optional: Kiddush luncheon to follow) Ilene and Josh Weiss | Please share in our pride and joy as our daughter Rachel Rebecca (Optional Hebrew name) is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah Saturday, August 25, 2017 at 9:00 am Congregation Har Sinai 1234 Westwood Dr. Scarsdale, NY Ilene and Josh Weiss |
The above date and time is written informally. Numbers in dates and times are not spelled out. Also, abbreviations may be included in addresses.
Whether you choose informal versus formal wording, it’s a good idea to keep the tone consistent throughout the invitation package. However, etiquette rules become more and more relaxed over time. Therefore, it’s most important to make sure there are no spelling or detail errors.
Note: often times, the parents host a kiddush luncheon following the service, so this is optionally included in the invitation wording.
What generally changes with Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah invitation wording is the top portion. Here are some examples of other ideas for the top portion of the invitation wording.
| With love in our hearts we invite you to share in our simcha as our daughter | We invite you to join us in celebration as our dear son | With our hearts full of joy and pride we invite our family and friends to join us as our son |
| In the tradition of our ancestors please join us in celebration as our beloved son | It is with great pleasure and gratitude to Hashem that we invite you to join us as our daughter | We invite you to join us in ceremony and celebration when our daughter |
| With boundless love we invite you to share in the celebration as our beloved son | We would be delighted if you would join us as our daughter | With pride in our heritage and hope for the future we invite you to share our joy as our son |
These are only a sample of ideas for wording that first part of your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah invitation. If you want to word your own, focus on love, pride, joy, the specialness of the occasion, tradition, honour, and worship.
Variations on Bat Mitzvah and Bar Mitzvah invitation wording include: having the parents names at the top or having the wording appear as though the child is the one doing the inviting.
For example, you could have the parent’s names at the top like this:
Marlene and Irving Glassman
invite you to celebrate as their daughter…
or you could word the invitation like these below, as though the child is the one inviting the guests:
| My family and I would like to share a special moment in my life when I will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah Saturday, the twenty-fifth of August two thousand twenty-four at half past nine in the morning Congregation Har Sinai 1234 Westwood Drive Scarsdale, New York Sharon Rachel Greenberg (Optional Hebrew name) | My family and I would be honored to have you join us on this most joyous occasion when I will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah Saturday, the twenty-fifth of August two thousand twenty-four at ten o’clock in the morning Congregation Har Sinai 1234 Westwood Drive Scarsdale, New York Jason Adam Weiss (Optional Hebrew name) |
Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah Reception Wording
The above covers off the wording for the service. However, what about the reception party to celebrate the event?
For affordability, some parents will include the reception party information on the invitation. In this case, you could write something along the lines of:
| Our celebration continues immediately following services at The Renaissance Hotel 1122 Westmore Drive | Reception to follow at six o’clock in the evening The Renaissance Hotel 1122 Westmore Drive |
Often, parents will buy a separate Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah reception insert card. This is a smaller card that is placed inside with the larger invitation for the service. Here are a couple of examples of wording for these cards.
| Reception Our celebration continues at The Renaissance Hotel 1122 Westmore Drive six o’clock in the evening semi-formal attire | Reception Please join us for dinner and dancing in David’s honor six o’clock in the evening The Renaissance Hotel 1122 Westmore Drive Formal attire |
Note: these reception insert cards can also contain personalized Bar or Bat Mitzvah website details and / or transportation details.
Sometimes parents want to invite guests to the ceremony and not the party or to the party and not the ceremony. A reception insert card is perfect for when you are inviting more people to the ceremony than the party.
However, if you are inviting more people to the party than to the ceremony, you should make sure to order a special reception only invitation for guests not invited to the ceremony. That way, the invitation is properly sized and able to contain a RSVP card if necessary.
Keep in mind that reception insert cards are often small cards that aren’t meant to be mailed out as individual invitations.
Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah RSVP Wording
Finally, do not forget to ask guests to RSVP by a particular date so that you know how many guests plan to attend.
Traditionally, Mitzvah invitation packages have included a separate mail-in RSVP insert card. The guests are intended to mail back the RSVP card to you. Sometimes these RSVP insert cards will include meal choice options. Sometimes they will break down how many guests will attend the ceremony versus attending the celebration party.
How you word these cards will depend on your party planning. Some parents planning Mitzvahs find they will need multiple versions of this card with different wording choices. However, simple party planning will make your life a lot easier, so try not to get too bogged down in the details.
Opting out of tradition, some parents ask for phone or electronic RSVP information. You can add phone or electronic RSVP details either to the invitation or to a separate insert card. A separate insert card is a good idea if you don’t want the invitation wording to look overly cluttered.
Include both a phone number and an email address for the convenience of guests. Many people prefer to communicate electronically, so including a digital means of communication boosts the chances that people will make the effort to RSVP. If the phone number is associated with a cell phone that can accept text messages, make a brief note to ensure that guests know they can RSVP via text. Be sure to also include the name of the person who is collecting a list of those who will and will not be attending the party.
Another RSVP option is to have guests RSVP to a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah website. These personalized event websites have been more popular with weddings, but they can be great resources for Mitzvahs as well. If you are using a personalized event website, you can include a message to RSVP by a certain date at your website url on your invitation or on a separate insert card.
Themed Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Invitations
If the Mitzvah party is themed, it’s quite a bit more fun if the invitations reflect the theme as well. Traditionalists might object, but making the event have a theme that’s something your child loves will make the event that much more special for him or her.
You want your son or daughter to enjoy being a part of their religious community. Relaxing the rules around stuffy traditions can help achieve that. He or she will still have to do the work, but the reward is a fun celebration that takes his or her favorite things into account.
While the invitation design is one way to reflect the theme of the party, the wording can also match.
Here are some ideas for phrases that can be used for themed Bat Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah invitations:
• Fairytale, Fantasy or Medieval Theme
“Hear ye! Hear ye! All ye Kings and Queens, Knights and Nobles. Let it be known that…”
• Football Theme
“Grab your cleats and join the team!”
• 70s Disco Theme
“Please join us for a groovy day to celebrate”
• Car Racing Theme
“Start your engines!”
• Alice in Wonderland
“Don’t be late for a very important date!”
These are just a few examples of how wording can match up with the theme of the party. Lemon Leaf Prints offers Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations that fit in with these and other themes. Be as creative as you want though, the Zazzle website allows you to change all the wording and even the fonts! Looking for a themed invitation you can’t find, contact us and we’d be happy to create a design for you.
Bible Verses
Bible verses can make nice additions to wording on Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah invitations. Here are a few we think would be fitting.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1
“Surely, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2
“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” 2 Samuel 22:33
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8
“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4
Final Thoughts
While the wording on Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah invitations is important, the overall look of the invitation will be the first thing that guests notice when they open the envelope. High-quality Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah invites in eye-catching colors and designs are ideal for making a positive impression. While many parents still prefer traditional designs, others are opting for unique, fun designs that are suitable to a Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah child’s personality and interests.
Lemon Leaf Prints offers a variety of fun and unique Bar Mitzvah invitation designs and Bat Mitzvah invitation designs that can easily match the unique personality of the Bat Mitzvah girl or Bar Mitzvah boy.