Surviving Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah

August 20, 2012
In this humorous and informative primer on becoming bar or bat mitzvahed, Axelrod helps kids and their parents navigate this meaningful but often stressful time with useful tips and back-to-basics knowledge. Axelrod, a cantor with over twenty years' experience training soon-to be thirteen-year-olds for their induction into the world of Jewish maturity and responsibility, takes readers on a step-by-step tour of what the celebration means, what tasks need to be accomplished for that special day, and how to make it through the process without succumbing to the myriad pressures. Although this volume is mostly handy for followers of the Conservative branch of Judaism, those unfamiliar with the multifaceted aspects of the milestone will also find Axelrod's calming voice and guiding hand helpful. Hebrew grammarians may find fault with his explanation of the term bar mitzvah, which he defines simply as coming of age, but Axelrod's deep knowledge and familiarity with this process, and especially his entertaining asides, will satisfy most. Agent: Anne Devlin

November 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-Writing with a breezy and conversational tone, a Conservative cantor attempts to answer common questions. Why am I having a Bar/Bat Mitzvah? How should I practice? What if I make a mistake? Axelrod inserts plenty of anecdotes and advice from his personal experience helping hundreds of students prepare for these rites of passage. His jokes and asides are witty and humorous at times; however, they quickly become tiresome and overdone. While the background information and explanations about the prayers, the Jewish calendar, and the Torah and haftarah readings are useful, students might not find all of the tips and advice relevant to their own experience. The author makes assumptions that might not always be accurate or appreciated, such as his description of "a thirteen-year-old who probably just can't wait to add up the checks and get back to her blissfully temple-free routine." The introduction claims that this is "not a spiritual guide to the Jewish religion," but Axelrod frequently digresses to present his own opinions about Jewish life that may not be universally shared. "Just for Parents" text boxes and entire sections addressed directly to parents are included. Libraries in which Bar/Bat Mitzvah guides are popular may consider adding this to their collections; however, Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin's For Kids-Putting God on Your Guest List (Jewish Lights, 2007) is far superior.Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2012
Grades 5-8 Axelrod, a longtime cantor from New Jersey, offers young adults and their parents helpful information about preparing for a bar/bat mitzvah ceremony. Beginning with a clarification (bar/bat mitzvah means of age, not a ceremony), he goes on to discuss practice (yes, you have to), trope (the secret code for singing any haftarah or Torah portion), parts of the service, making mistakes, and dealing with overinvolved parents. Although he opts for a humorous tone, Axelrod's message is both down-to-earth and serious: treat your service as an opportunity to be prepared and do your best, and take the initiative to become an active, rather than passive, participant in the ceremony. Chapters are divided into manageable sections with catchy subtitles (Services Are Boring), while frequent sidebars (Insider's Tips and Just for Parents) and cartoon illustrations will keep even reluctant readers engaged. This is a must-have for Conservative and Reform congregational libraries as well as public libraries serving these populations. Pair this with Robert Walker's Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, reviewed on p.46.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)