BAR & BAT MITZVAHS
Most people would rather submit to an IRS audit than speak in public.
Not everyone knows how to create a Bar or Bat Mitzvah speech that truly hits the mark. They’re even more f’tutzed about writing what they’ll say, especially as a parent tasked with giving a Bar or Bat Mitzvah speech for their son or daughter’s celebration.
Oy!
When you’re honored by being asked to deliver personal remarks in a Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah speech, you’re up. You’re on. You have to rock it.
Celebrating this special moment in Jewish tradition is not just an excuse to show off how big a gala your family can afford. The occasion marks a deep spiritual connection with G-d.
That’s when you call me.
I’ve been a creative wordsmith all my life. For over ten years, I’ve been the go-to person for coming-of-age occasions in the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jewish communities throughout North America, England, and even Israel.
Everything I create is original. No two Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah speeches are written alike. Ever.
How do we start on your Bar or Bat Mitzvah speech?
The minute the date is set, and you know you’ll have a role in the celebration, we start thinking about what you might say in your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah speech. In most cases, that gives you at least a year. Don’t wait until it’s 8:52 on Shabbat morning, and the religious ceremony begins in eight minutes. At that point, it’s too late for even G-d to step in.
I’ll talk with you on the phone to get to know you, the family, and your relationship with the child for whom you need a Bar or Bat Mitzvah speech. I’ll help you gather all your thoughts and memories, add some poignant suggestions, choose a theme, tone, and point of view, and get right to work with your approval.
Read Molly’s Writing Samples
How good does your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah Speech have to be as a parent?
Although you may marry many times and celebrate a hundred birthdays, a person only has one Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Just one. Deliver words to be remembered.
This celebration marks a child’s passage into adulthood, and your speech should help strengthen the idea that the occasion is worth remembering. As a parent, few opportunities are as significant as this in helping your child on their journey to adulthood. This is the moment where you can sincerely let them know how proud you are and highlight the aspects of their personality that bring joy to your lives.
Finding the right words can make this occasion not just a great one but an exceptional one.
Delivery options are endless.
There’s nothing wrong with going strictly traditional and sticking with the Torah. On the other hand, you could commission Cirque du Soleil to choreograph a tasteful number with you as the narrator. But most families – no matter which branch of Judaism they embrace – prefer a blend of the traditional and the new in a Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah speech.
It’s crucial to have a familiar understanding of the family to be able to write a personalized speech that fits well with the occasion. Getting to know them outside of your time together at the synagogue can help you better identify who to thank, which feelings are essential in incorporating, and which stories may affect your audience most.
Beyond writing on your behalf, I’ll help you feel comfortable and safe delivering your speech.
In addition to writing a Bar or Bat Mitzvah speech for you, in your persona and voice, I’ll also coach you on your delivery. My services include making a recording for you to listen to as you read along with the words, so you’re at ease with the text of your speech when the occasion comes around.
“So I hired Molly on Thursday to write my speech for my niece’s Bat Mitzvah the following night. Rocked the house.”– Barry Deutch