Bar & Bat Mitzvah · Parent Speech Guides

Speech Ideas for Every Torah Portion

Your child's bar or bat mitzvah falls on a specific Shabbat, and that Shabbat has a parsha. Find it below — each guide gives parents three speech themes drawn from the portion, with the questions that surface your child's real stories.

Genesis · Bereshit

BereshitCreation, the first humans, Cain and Abel — beginnings and the first questions of responsibility. NoachNoah builds the ark, the flood, the rainbow covenant, and the Tower of Babel. Lech LechaGod tells Avram 'go forth' from everything familiar toward an unknown land and an enormous promise. VayeraAbraham welcomes three strangers, argues with God over Sodom, and faces his hardest test. Chayei SarahSarah's death, Abraham secures her burial place, and Rebecca is chosen at the well. ToldotJacob and Esau are born and clash; Isaac re-digs his father's wells; blessings change a family's path. VayetzeiJacob's ladder dream, fourteen years of labor for Laban, and building a family far from home. VayishlachJacob wrestles through the night, is renamed Israel, and faces his brother Esau after twenty years. VayeshevJoseph the dreamer is thrown into a pit, sold, and holds onto integrity in Potiphar's house and prison. MiketzJoseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams, plans for famine, and rises to lead Egypt. VayigashJudah steps forward to plead for Benjamin; Joseph reveals himself and forgives; the family reunites. VayechiJacob blesses each of his children and grandchildren individually before his death; legacy passes on.

Exodus · Shemot

ShemotEgypt enslaves Israel; the midwives defy Pharaoh; Moses notices injustice and meets God at the bush. Va'eraMoses returns to Pharaoh again and again; the plagues begin; liberation is promised in four expressions. BoThe final plagues, the first Passover, and the command to tell the story to your children. BeshalachThe sea splits, Miriam leads the song, manna falls, and a free people learns to trust the wilderness. YitroMoses' father-in-law teaches him to delegate; Israel stands together at Sinai for the Ten Commandments. MishpatimAfter Sinai's thunder, dozens of everyday laws: damages, lost property, honesty, and the stranger. TerumahGod asks for offerings from every willing heart to build the Mishkan — a sanctuary so God may dwell among them. TetzavehThe eternal lamp, the priestly garments, and Aaron carrying the names of the tribes on his heart. Ki TisaThe golden calf, the shattered tablets, Moses' advocacy, and a second set of tablets — the Torah of second chances. VayakhelThe whole community assembles and brings so much for the Mishkan that Moses tells them to stop. PekudeiMoses gives a full accounting of every donation, the Mishkan is completed, and the cloud fills it.

Leviticus · Vayikra

VayikraThe laws of offerings begin — korban, from the root 'to draw near' — and a famously small letter teaches humility. TzavThe priests' duties, and the fire on the altar that must never go out. SheminiThe eighth day of dedication, sudden tragedy, Aaron's silence, and the laws distinguishing what we eat. TazriaLaws of childbirth and the skin affliction tzara'at — which tradition links to the misuse of speech. MetzoraThe ritual of repair and return for the afflicted — and afflictions that can spread even to a house. Acharei MotThe Yom Kippur service is established — a yearly structure for atonement and starting again. Kedoshim'You shall be holy' — and the Torah's most famous line: love your neighbor as yourself. EmorStandards for the priests, the calendar of sacred festivals, and the weight of words — emor means 'say.' BeharThe sabbatical year for the land, the jubilee, and protections for those who fall on hard times. BechukotaiBlessings for walking in the covenant, consequences for abandoning it — choices carry weight.

Numbers · Bamidbar

BamidbarA census in the wilderness — every person counted, every tribe given its place and banner. NasoThe longest parsha: lifting heads in the census, the priestly blessing, and every tribal gift recorded equally. Beha'alotchaLighting the menorah, the people's complaints, Moses' humility, and a second chance for Pesach. ShelachTwelve scouts survey the land; ten despair, but Caleb and Joshua see it differently. KorachKorach's rebellion against Moses — ambition, ego, and the difference between argument and grievance. ChukatThe red heifer's mystery, the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, and Moses striking the rock. BalakBalaam is hired to curse Israel and blesses them instead — 'How goodly are your tents, O Jacob.' PinchasThe daughters of Tzelophehad win their inheritance, and Joshua is appointed to succeed Moses. MatotThe laws of vows, and two tribes who negotiate to settle east of the Jordan — but promise to fight alongside their brothers first. MaseiAll forty-two encampments of the journey are listed, and cities of refuge are established.

Deuteronomy · Devarim

DevarimMoses begins his farewell address, retelling the journey honestly — failures included — to a new generation. Va'etchananThe Shema, the V'ahavta, and the command to teach these words diligently to your children. EikevGratitude after eating your fill, the lessons of manna, and the small commandments people trample. Re'eh'See, I set before you blessing and curse' — choices laid out plainly, and the command of the open hand. Shoftim'Justice, justice shall you pursue' — courts, honest leadership, and care even for trees in wartime. Ki TeitzeiMore commandments than any other parsha — dozens of laws about everyday decency. Ki TavoThe first-fruits declaration — gratitude said out loud — and remembering where you came from. NitzavimEveryone stands together in the covenant — and the Torah 'is not in heaven'; it is near you. VayelechMoses, at 120, hands leadership to Joshua: 'Be strong and courageous.' Ha'azinuMoses' farewell song, calling heaven and earth as witnesses. V'Zot HaBerachahMoses blesses each tribe individually, and the Torah ends — only to begin again.

Not sure which portion is your child's?

Nachas computes it from their birth date — then interviews you and writes the speech plan around their real stories.

Find the parsha & start the speech

The interview and speech plan are free. No signup.