Bar and bat mitzvah

Mazel tov! Everyone who lights a candle leaves them a message in one book.

We think a bar or bat mitzvah is one of the best days a family gets. The candle lighting already does the hard part, because thirteen people stand up by name with something to say. Chorus keeps what they say! Each one records a message by voice note, video, photo or a few written lines, and you give the whole book to the thirteen-year-old.

Start a bar mitzvah book

Gathering everyone's messages is free. You won't need a card.

A Chorus hardcover with Noah's bar mitzvah on the cover
All 132 of 13
H

Hannah

his sister

A photo from Hannah of two friends laughing on a picnic rug

Noah, you were so calm up there and your Hebrew was perfect. Mom cried through the whole thing and Dad pretended he had something in his eye. I was proud of you the whole way...

The questions

30 questions for the people lighting a candle

Three of these go in the book to start. Swap in any you like, or write your own.

For every candle12 questions
  1. What do you love most about them?
  2. What do you want them to remember about today?
  3. What do you wish for them as they grow up?
  4. What did you think when you heard them read their portion?
  5. Tell them about the day they were born, or the day you met them.
  6. What do they do that always makes you laugh?
  7. What do you hope they carry on from our family?
  8. What were you like at thirteen, and what would you tell them?
  9. Which family story do you want them to know?
  10. What are you most looking forward to for them?
  11. Who were they named after, and what should they know about that person?
  12. What would you say to them if you had one minute at the bimah?
For Savta and Saba8 questions
  1. Tell them about your own bar or bat mitzvah. Who was there?
  2. What was the shul like where you grew up?
  3. Tell them about their mom or dad at thirteen.
  4. Which Shabbat dish do you want them to keep making?
  5. What did your parents teach you that you want them to know?
  6. Who in our family would have loved to see today?
  7. What is the best part of being their grandparent?
  8. What blessing do you give them today?
For friends and cousins8 questions
  1. How did you two become friends?
  2. What is the funniest thing you have done together?
  3. What are they better at than anyone you know?
  4. What do you want to do together when you are both grown up?
  5. What is one thing about them nobody else knows?
  6. What did you think of their speech?
  7. What song will always remind you of them?
  8. What do you want to say to them today?

Two ways to do it

Everyone's messages, or Savta and Saba's stories for them.

Everyone's messages

A message for every candle

Everyone on the candle list gets the link in the weeks before and records their message. You give the book at the party, or at Shabbat dinner the week after.

  • What do you love most about Noah?
  • What do you want Noah to remember about today?
  • What do you wish for Noah as he grows up?
Start the book for them

The grandparents' story

Savta and Saba's stories for them

Savta and Saba have the stories the child has never heard. Give them the phone and the first question, and their stories go in the same book.

  • Tell Noah about your own bar mitzvah. Who was there?
  • Tell Noah about his dad at thirteen.
  • What do you hope Noah carries on from our family?
Start Savta and Saba's story

Record Savta and Saba right there on the couch in the Chorus app! Afterwards it prompts you with their next question every week or every month.

Get it onGoogle Play

Our mission

The world gets better when people hear the good things we say about them.

We are enabling over 1 million people to say it. Share the stories, love and gratitude. Your voice is what makes the world's greatest gift.

Join the mission

Books people made for a big day

I am so glad I took the time to do this, my son loved it so much and said it was the best present he has ever gotten. Just a super gift!!
SD

Sarah D.

made a book for her son's bar mitzvah

Dad cried....and my dad never cries! It was so easy to collect the stories. Super support too!
EM

Emily M.

made a book for her daughter's bat mitzvah with her dad

Chorus, thanks so much! I'm not technical and found this so easy. The book is a family heirloom now.
MC

Mary C.

made a book for her grandson's bar mitzvah

The podcast link is brilliant - you just get things you couldn't get in a book like laughing or the background in a recording! I am so happy we have this for him when he is grown.
CO

Chris O.

made a book for his nephew's bar mitzvah

SUPER idea. In a world where we're all so disconnected, capturing all the things we mean to each other is just priceless. Make the time, do it!
KB

Kate B.

made a book for her daughter's bat mitzvah

Here's what they get.

All 137 of 13
D

Daniel

his dad

A photo from Daniel of them laughing over old photos at the kitchen table

Noah, I have never been prouder of anyone in my life. You worked for a year for today and you did it. I love you, buddy...

Next up, Jonah, his uncle

Hear it

All thirteen in one podcast

All thirteen messages play from one link, in the order the candles were lit.

What do you want Noah to remember about today?

Jonah

his uncle

That the whole room stood up for you. Mazel tov, Noah.

Scan to hear Jonah

Read it

A book to read online

A book online that you can send digitally or print at home!

A Chorus hardcover with Noah's bar mitzvah on the cover

Hold it

A hardcover for them to keep

We print the book and ship it to your door.

What makes it easy

We've made it easy for everyone to join in!

All 1311 of 13
H

Hannah

his sister

Siman Tov u'Mazel Tov

traditional

Play on SpotifyPlay on YouTube

Add a song to their message

Each person can pick a song that goes with their message. It plays from their place in the podcast and prints on their page.

choruskeepsake.com/book/noahs-bar-mitzvah

One link for everyone

They can each record a message on their own phone. Nobody needs an account.

Voice, video or writing

Everyone can answer their own way, with a voice note, a video or a few written lines.

Scan the page and hear their voice!

A code under each message plays the voice from the book. You can switch the codes off if you'd like the page without them.

SHDM4 chipped in

Everyone can chip in

Turn on chip-in and everyone can put money towards the book.

The free Chorus app

Record Grandma or Grandpa on your phone

Grandma might never open a link, and that's ok! Sit down together, ask her one of the questions and hold up your phone while she talks.

Also in the app

Get it on Google Play

Hannah

Mom cried through the whole thing and Dad pretended he had something in his eye. I was proud of you the whole way.

Edit

Change anything before it prints

You see every page before it prints, so you can fix a word, swap a photo or take a page out.

Miriam, voice note3:40

Hannah, video1:12

Daniel, voice note2:35

Keep every recording

Every voice note and video is yours to download, free, whenever you like!

Gathering is free. You pay when the book is ready.

Collect every voice and every photo for free, then choose how they get it.

The voices

$45

Their own podcast. Every recording is tidied as it comes in, and one link plays them all.

Choose the voices

The book

$99

The podcast, plus a book online that you can send digitally or print at home.

Choose the book

The keepsake

$115

The book printed as a hardcover and shipped to you, with everything above. Shipping is included.

Choose the keepsake

Start free and send the link today.

How it works

Everyone records on the phone in their pocket.

The page everyone sees when they open the link, with a name typed in
1. Send the link to the candle list. Each person opens it on their own phone and says who they are.
The recording screen, with a question and a big record button
2. They tap and talk. Or they film a video, or ask for a different question.
The writing screen, with an answer typed under the question
3. Or they write it. They can add a photo with it.

When everyone's in, you choose the podcast, the book online or the printed book.

Questions people ask

What do you write in a bar mitzvah book?

Say what you love about them and tell one story only you could tell. If you are stuck, pick a question from the 30 on this page.

Can the book follow the candle-lighting order?

Yes! You put the pages in whatever order you like before it prints, so the book can run candle by candle.

Can family overseas take part?

Yes! The link works in any country, and every voice plays in the one podcast.

Do Savta and Saba need an app?

No. They open your link on any phone and record, or you record them in the Chorus app when you are together.

When should I start?

Send the link about six weeks before the day, and order the printed book three weeks before so it arrives in time. The podcast and the book online are ready the day you order.

What does it cost?

It doesn't cost anything to collect the messages. When the book is ready, you choose the podcast, the book online or the printed hardcover. We ship the hardcover to you and the shipping is included.

Can someone write their message instead?

Yes. Anyone can type their message instead of recording it, and add a photo with it.

Start a bar mitzvah book

Gathering is free. Everyone will love being part of it.

Guides that might help

Start a bar mitzvah book