B'nai Mitzvah: Beth Sholom B'nai Israel

At the age of 13, a Jewish child will have a Bar Mitzvah (for a boy), a Bat Mitzvah (for a girl) or a Simchat Mitzvah (for non-binary children). It implies that the child is now of legal age according to Jewish tradition and is responsible for Jewish religious obligations. This moment of transition is celebrated in synagogue with the child being called to the Torah, reading a Haftara, teaching a lesson to the congregation and leading parts of the service. Many will also mark this time by taking on some social action project to indicate their commitment to the betterment of the world.

While preparing for the ceremony is challenging, it is also a time when a child first stretches their adult wings, leading the congregation as any adult member might do. Our educational program is designed to give students the skills they need not just to excel at their ceremony but to excel as an adult Jew. Secular legal age may still be many years in the future, but Judaism understands that religious practice should begin at an early age. Bar/Bat/Simchat Mitzvah is properly the beginning of lifelong Jewish Learning

We also are aware that there are adults of any age that, for many reasons, never learned what they needed to be a mature member of the Jewish Community. For this reason we offer Adult Learning and the possibility of celebrating their attainment of basic Jewish learning with an adult Bar/Bat/Simcha Mitzvah.  Any adult interested in this program should talk to the Rabbi.