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.

Personalizing the B'nai Mitzvah Experience

Fifth- and six-grade students have the option of engaging in an additional project to personalize their b’nai mitzvah experiences. Each participating student works with his or her family and a synagogue staff member to identify a particular passion that can help explore what it means to him or her, personally, to be Jewish. Students create their own project for this exploration and partner with a mentor in the congregation to guide their work. For example, if a student is particularly interested in gender and LGBTQ issues, he or she might keep a blog to explore how Judaism addresses these topics, while working with a mentor who is interested in political activism.

Program Info

Grade levels: 5, 6

Learners: Children (pre-B’nai Mitzvah), Parents, Community Members

Families have the option of enrolling in this program in addition to the regular educational offerings.

Year Implemented: 2013

Areas:

  • Participating in Community
  • Mentoring
  • Repairing the World

About Us

Temple Beth Elohim

Wellesley, MA

1200 members

Reform Congregation

B’nai Mitzvah each year: 80

Links

tbewellesley.org