Tips for B'nai Mitzvah Family Helpers

 

 

Responsibilities

 

Responsibilities entail parking assistance, ushering, and minor clean-up. Family Helpers should show up 30 minutes before the service, and plan to stay no more than 30 minutes after the service, to help pick up programs and books from the Sanctuary and to help clean up after a "light" Kiddush. (If the family plans a larger Kiddush then it is their responsibility to make their own arrangements to set up and clean up in the Oneg Room.)

 

 

Parking

 

Parking assistance involves letting the allowed people into the Temple lot, and then directing other people to the Church lot (if it is available) or to street parking or other Winchester parking lots.

The family should have heard earlier in the week whether the Church lot is available, and should be able to tell you whether it is, and also who is allowed in the Temple lot (the family can use up to 10 regular spaces and 1 handicapped space).

Ushering

 

Before the service, one person should stand in the front lobby before the service and direct people to the coat room, rest rooms, the place to put gifts, and the Sanctuary. Another person should wait upstairs, putting out books and helping people find seats.

During the service, ushers should wait in the back of the Sanctuary, to help latecomers and also to keep kids quiet if needed.

After the service, ushers should put away all books and pick up any programs, kippot, and anything else.

Light Kiddush

 

If a family is having a light Kiddush (not catered), one of the Family Helpers should pour wine and juice and put out the challah before going up to the Sanctuary, so that the Oneg room is set when the service ends.

If the family is planning a larger Kiddush, they will need to make their own arrangements to set up and clean up.

 

To contact the Family Helper Coordinator, email FamilyHelpers@shir-tikvah.org.