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.

Hebrew Through Movement/Hebrew Side by Side

Temple Isaiah has changed its approach to teaching Hebrew, aiming for students to feel proud of their Hebrew skills and to connect to their Jewish heritage through Hebrew. Students mainly learn Hebrew prayers orally or through transliteration in twice-weekly t’filah services. The focus on learned Hebrew is “Jewish life vocabulary,” as well as a rich vocabulary of modern Hebrew through the use of Hebrew through Movement (www.hebrewthroughmovement.org). Students learn Hebrew vocabulary that helps them understand Jewish concepts, values, and experiences, as well as Hebrew related to Jewish holidays and rituals. In sixth grade, students participate in a 12-week “Hebrew boot camp,” where they learn decoding to prepare for b’nai mitzvah using the curriculum Let’s Learn Hebrew Side by Side.

 

Program Info

Grade Levels: 3-7

Learners: Children (pre-B’nai Mitzvah)

Everyone in the target audience is required to participate in the program.

Year Implemented: 2012

Areas:

  • Participating in Community

About Us

Temple Isaiah

Lafayette, CA

900 members

B’nai Mitzvah each year: 55

Reform Congregation

Links

temple-isaiah.org

hebrewthroughmovement.org

letslearnhebrew.org