In a Jewish synagogue hosting a bar mitzvah, the curtain covering the Torah ark is called a parochet.
A parochet is the decorative curtain placed in front of the aron kodesh, the cabinet that houses Torah scrolls. It is often opened during a Torah service as the scroll is removed and closed after the scroll is returned. The practice recalls the curtain that separated sacred spaces in the ancient Temple tradition.
The parochet may be embroidered with Hebrew words, biblical imagery, crowns, lions, or other Jewish symbols. Some synagogues use different curtains for ordinary weekdays, festivals, or the High Holy Days. At a bar mitzvah, the parochet forms part of the visual setting in which the celebrant is called to the Torah.
The parochet should not be confused with a tallit, the prayer shawl worn by many Jewish worshippers, or with the Torah mantle placed directly around a scroll. The parochet hangs outside the ark; the mantle travels with the scroll.