 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
"I was impressed by how both the Rabbi and our Circle teacher would take traditional learning and make it relevant to real life experience. This approach carried into the Bar Mitzvah service as well. It was a magnificent service, beyond our family's remotest expectations. A true Mitzvah."
Adam Raff, Full time dad |
Programs and Resources
BAR AND BAT MITZVAH TRAINING PROGRAMS
Amirim, Tree Tops
A Bar and Bat Mitzvah track for sixth and seventh grade. This program has three components:
- Skills - Hebrew reading, and Torah/Haftorah chanting
- Jewish Basics - Students learn the names and the historical evolution of Jewish classical texts. They become acquainted with the lives and teachings of central Jewish figures. Students learn the broad timeline of Jewish history. They learn basic concepts in Jewish spirituality. Students solidify their mastery of Hebrew and ritual skills. They learn about the concept of Mitzvah and the meaning of adolescent rites of passage.
This Circle is designed to equip the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child with a coherent overview of the Jewish cultural and spiritual landscape. - Personal Mentorship - The student learns his or her ceremony-specific assignments:
- D'var Torah (speech)
- Torah and/or Haftorah chanting
- Sh'ma and other selected prayers
- A Mitzvah project (community service)
Mishpaha, Family
A child/parent Bar/Bat Mitzvah learning track. This creative, multi-modal shared study offers the parent(s) and child an opportunity to seek answers, develop tools, and find growing meaning in Judaism. Child and parent will learn together, separately and interactively through the pedagogical approach that will best meet their needs and learning styles. This unique program empowers the child and family. The program helps demonstrate that the experience of preparing for Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a natural extension of shared family life, love and values. The experience conveys to the child that consciously exploring sensitive core issues such as faith, spirituality, and identity is a beneficial and maturing pursuit.
90 minute sessions.
Hagigot, Celebrations
A series of family-centered, kid-friendly, holiday and Shabbat celebrations. These gatherings afford students the opportunity to proudly demonstrate ritual skills learned during Circle sessions and much more (see semester calendar).
Teva, Nature Experience
An educational outdoor weekend retreat for Bar/Bat Mitzvah track students and their parents. Students gain an appreciation of Judaism's deep roots in nature and ecology. Nature and outdoor leadership-building activities enhance the students' developing Jewish identity.
Nesharim, Eagles
A post Bar and Bat Mitzvah Learning Circle. Students choose to explore areas of Jewish interest and/or choose to strengthen and deepen their ritual and Hebrew language skills. The Circle can be arranged as a 90 minute weekly session or alternately as a monthly social/educational program. Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah learning is rewarded with a series of teen life-cycle ceremonies. At age fourteen, students celebrate the Bar/Bat Yeholet (high skill) ceremony at which they mark the transition from middle school to high school in a Jewish context. At age sixteen, students celebrate the Atzma'ut (independence) ceremony, at which they mark the beginning of driving privileges and responsibilities in a Jewish context.
DETAILED CURRICULA
Amirim, Tree Tops A two year Bar and Bat Mitzvah track
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah curriculum is designed to provide the student with:
- An integrated set of basic Jewish skills
- A variety of Jewish cultural and spiritual experiences
- A forum for reflection on the student's coming-of-age.
Curricular track objectives, rhythm, and content:
The graduating student will be able to competently perform his or her Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonial assignments. The student will be able to confidently participate in Jewish family or synagogue observance. The student will be able to intelligently discuss his or her Jewish identity.
Frequency: weekly or twice weekly
Session length:
- Bar/Bat Mitzvah track - minimum of 90 minutes
- Private mentorship - minimum of 60 or 90 minutes
- Bar/Bat Mitzvah track - At a participating family's home
- Private mentorship - HLC office
- Hebrew song (5 minutes)
- Hebrew reading and or ritual skills (25 minutes)
- Judaica (45 minutes)
- The Jewish library of classical texts
- Jewish heroes and their stories
- Holiday observance and Jewish calendar
- Values clarification
- God, spirituality, and ethics
- Hebrew song (5 minutes)
- The Jewish library of classical texts (14 sessions)
- Jewish heroes and their stories (6 sessions)
- Holiday observance and Jewish calendar (7 sessions)
- Values clarification (7 sessions)
- Discussion of Jewish adult privileges and responsibilities
- Discussion of Mitzvot - distinguishing Jewish skills and actions.
- Discussion of Jewish identity.
- Discussion of adolescent rite of passage
- Jewish heroes and their stories (5 sessions)
- God, spirituality, and ethics (8 sessions)
- Holiday observance and Jewish calendar (7 sessions) - See above
D'var Torah (speech), Torah chanting, prayer skills, ethics and Mitzvah project (30 sessions)
Textbooks:
- Hebrew Hevrutah Series Workbook
- Sim Shalom Siddur
- Humash (Hebrew Bible)
Mishpaha, Family
Parent/s & child together one semester curriculum
This curriculum is designed to enhance the child's and family's Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience. The shared nature of this learning modality demonstrates to the child that the Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation experience is an extension of shared family life, love and values. The child will learn as much from the parent's mere involvement as he or she will learn from presented content. Parent and child are encouraged to raise their own questions, concerns, and life experiences relating to Judaism. The program facilitates an opportunity for parent and child to learn alongside one another, about one another, and from one another.
Curricular track objectives, rhythm, and content:
Child and parent will become equally prepared for each of their clearly defined and separate roles at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah service. The child will be equipped for continued constructive explorations of his or her Jewish identity.
Frequency: weekly
Session length: 90 minutes
Location: HLC office
Circle session rhythm:
- Ceremony skills (30 minutes)
- Judaica themes (30 minutes)
- Holiday observance and other skills (30 minutes)
- God and Jewish spirituality
- Mitzvah as a model for adult responsibility
- Tzedaka (helping others)
- Torah as sacred book and concept
- Shabbat - the Jewish concept of non-linear time
- "Jewish" - ethnicity, faith, or both?
-
Dilemmas related to being Jewish in our time:
- How do I celebrate/practice Judaism when "tradition as I have experienced it" doesn't speak to me?
- Am I Jewish, am I universal, or both? If both, in what proportion?
- One of my parents is born a Jew; the other is born non-Jewish. What does that make me?
- American Jew or Jewish American? Which am I?
- Who cares about Israel, and why?
- Other topics of choice
- Chanting from the Torah
- Reciting Hebrew prayers
- Friday night table rituals: Candle lighting, Kiddush, Hallah blessing
- Tying Tzitzit knots
- Wrapping Tefilin
- Others
STUDENT RESOURCES
PARENT RESOURCES