This gallery of B’nai Mitzvah Innovations profiles cutting edge approaches to B’nai Mitzvah.
First, begin your exploration of our six areas of experimentation with a button below.
Second, enjoy browsing through each of the snapshots in the collections.
B'nai Mitzvah Madrichim
The B’nai Mitzvah Madrichim program is a peer-to-peer tutoring program in which eighth- to twelfth-grade teens are hired to tutor pre-b’nai mitzvah students. Post-b’nai mitzvah teens experience tangible ways to make an impact on the lives of others, serve as role models, and experience the responsibility of a “real job,” while pre-b’nai mitzvah teens find mentors and role models from whom they can gain guidance about the bar/bat mitzvah experience and learn the prayers required of them to lead. While eighth-grade madrichim volunteer their time as tutors, beginning in the ninth grade, madrichim are paid minimum wage for their time, with raises given to those who can do trope tutoring. A madrich works anywhere from two to 12 hours per month, depending on his or her skills and schedule. Tutoring sessions take place year-round. Each b’nai mitzvah student attends 20 weeks of tutoring, paired with one or two madrichim each week for 60-minute tutoring sessions.
Lessons Learned
The cantor created a document that the madrichim and b’nai mitzvah students use to track progress made in tutoring sessions and assignments for home practice.
Program Info
Grade levels: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Learners: Children (pre-B’nai Mitzvah),Youth (post B’nai Mitzvah)
Students preparing for bar/bat mitzvah are required to participate in the program.
Year Implemented: 2000
Areas:
- Mentoring
- Becoming an Adolescent
About Us
Temple Beth El
Charlotte, N.C.
1100 members
Reform Congregation
B’nai Mitzvah each year: 70