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Congregation Beth Elohim Religious School

B'nai Mitzvah Program

At CBE, we believe that B'nai Mitzvah is just one step — although an important one — in a person’s Jewish life. While preparation for B'nai Mitzvah takes place throughout a student’s years in the Religious School, specially focused activities and resources in the B'nai Mitzvah year include the following:

  • A B'nai Mitzvah Orientation, at which families whose students will become B'nai Mitzvah in upcoming months are invited to explore various aspects of the occasion from the history and meaning of becoming a B'nai Mitzvah to the nuts and bolts of working with the congregation office on the logistics of the day.
  • In the year prior to B'nai Mitzvah, the rabbi holds a four-part B’nai Mitzvah Family Class, as students and adults come together discuss what this rite of passage means for different parts of the family.
  • Approximately ten months before our students are called to the Torah as B'nai Mitzvah, they start working with one of the congregation’s tutors on their readings from the Torah, Haftarah, and other portions of the service that they will lead.
  • Because students reaching B'nai Mitzvah are expected to teach as well as to learn, preparation also involves the student working with our rabbi and our cantor on their D’var Torah, an analysis of the Torah portion that they will deliver on the day.  Preparation starts approximately three months in advance.
  • All of our students reaching B'nai Mitzvah are encouraged to develop and carry out a “chesed project,” some form of social action meaningful to the student that serves as a reminder that one of the key mitzvot that Jews are required to carry out is tikkun olam, or “repairing the world.”
  • If Covid restructions allow, the synagogue social hall and other facilities are available for kiddush and receptions if desired. The congregation office also has a list of resources for parents, including recommendations and reviews of local banquet facilities, caterers, florists and other vendors who have been used by other families in the congregation for their celebrations.

The actual B'nai Mitzvah services are conducted as part of our regular Saturday morning Shabbat experience, where all members of the Beth Elohim community are welcome.

Adult B'nai Mitzvah preparation is also offered through CBE's adult education program.

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784