1. Our Community is Orthodox and we follow the Sephardic minhag. There is no problem, however, about people of  any minhag wishing to be bar/bat Mitzwah in our Community.

We have five Synagogues.  Schola Spagnola, Schola Levantina, Schola Italiana, Schola Tedesca, Schola Canton. These Synagogues are all in the Ghetto.

The bar/bat mitzwah  ceremony can be celebrated:
During the summer:        in the Schola Spagnola which is a Sephardic Synagogue; 
During the winter :          in the Schola Levantina which is a Sephardic Synagogue.

Both are Sephardic Synagogues and date late 1600s.

2. There are no specific rules regarding the use of any of our Synagogues, apart from those deriving from their being Orthodox.

3. Guests are permitted to attend the service according  to the family’s choice. Of course, during a regular service of Shabbath or weekday (i.e. for a Bar-Mitzwah) any member of the Community is allowed to attend.

4. The ceremony is performed in Hebrew, like the local use. Any change of the ceremony has to be concordate and approved by the Chief Rabbi.

5. The date of the ceremony should be fixed in agreement with our Rabbi.

6. It is customary to arrange a Kabalat Panim for the guests in our Community Center, which is just a few steps from any of the five Synagogues. The hall, there, can hold 100 people and as many the adjoining garden. The Kabalat Panim must be strictly Kosher. A Kosher service is easily available. Fees would vary depending on number of people invited and on the kind of food etc.

7. The fee  include the service, in the Synagogue of the Rabbi and Hazan, halachic control and verification of documents (see N. 8), cleaning of the Synagogue before and after the service, security service at the entrance of the Synagogue throughout the service, use of the Community Center Hall, mail and telephone or fax expenses, etc.

All costs are here given in Euros for easier reference.

As to halachic matters, which are within the sole province of our Rabbi, Rav Elia Richetti, the following are the documents to be produced: written certificates from  an Orthodox Rabbi  attesting the Jewishness of bar or bat mitzvah.