“Meet the B’nai Mitzvah” was designed to boost the communal aspects of the b’nai mitzvah experience. This close-knit community wanted to heighten the congregation’s sense of responsibility for honoring young people’s coming-of-age and facilitate the b’nai mitzvah families’ connection to the greater congregational community. “Meet the B’nai Mitzvah,” which takes place on Saturday night, is open to the full congregation. Participants celebrate Havdalah together, play games, enjoy dessert, laugh, and have fun, all with the goal of beginning to build relationships and connections to each other. Everyone has developed a greater sense of obligation to the congregational community and to the celebration of b’nai mitzvah.
Building relationships in the congregation requires baby steps, and “Meet the B’nai Mitzvah” is just the first step in that effort. Activities need to be light-hearted, pressure-free, and substantive in order to create the milieu for connections to begin to develop.
Grade levels: 6, 7
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: 2015
Areas:
Congregation B’nai Israel
Fayetteville, GA
85 members
Reform Congregation
B’nai Mitzvah each year: 4