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B'nai Mitzvah Program Overview

Temple Judea joyfully prepares our youngest members to cherish being part of a Jewish community.

As B’nai Mitzvah, our students demonstrate that they are prepared to meaningfully participate in different dimensions of Jewish communal life at Temple Judea and beyond.

IDENTITY & COMMUNAL CONNECTION

  • Demonstrate an appreciation of being part of a Jewish community.

  • Articulate why their family values being part of a Jewish community.

  • Learn about the many dimensions of Jewish life cycle events.

  • Appreciate American Jewish history and the special role of Reform Judaism in American Judaism.

PRAYER & SPIRITUALITY

  • Appreciate the unique role of Hebrew in Jewish life and be able to decode [sound out] Hebrew words.

  • Demonstrate the ability to sing and chant core Jewish prayers.

  • Learn to reflect on the themes of core prayers and how those themes relate to modern life.

  • Articulate Jewish teachings about God and the meaning of life and reflect on how those ideas relate to the student’s personal beliefs.

TEXTUAL TRADITION

  • Learn to read and chant sections of the Torah.

  • Explore specific sections of Torah and commentaries related to them.

  • Articulate how specific Jewish texts relate to modern issues and questions.

PERSONAL JEWISH PATHWAY

As our students prepare to become B’nai Mitzvah, they identify a Jewish pathway that is of particular personal interest and design and complete ONE of the following projects:

  • Mitzvah Service Project - B’nai Mitzvah students initiate or participate in one or more activities that will meaningfully help someone in need.

  • Tikkun Olam Social Justice Project - B’nai Mitzvah students design or participate in one or more activities that will meaningfully address an issue close to their hearts.

  • Tzedakah Fundraising Project - B’nai Mitzvah students raise money for a purpose close to their hearts.

  • Talmud Torah Study & Teach Project - B’nai Mitzvah students choose a subject related to their Jewishness to study and teach.

B’nai Mitzvah students share the nature of their projects, their projects' rationale, and the project outcomes at their B'nai Mitzvah.

Sat, December 14 2024 13 Kislev 5785