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.

Team Tzedek

At the end of 4th grade, students and their families chose among three tracks (My Israel, My Personal Prayer Journey, and Team Tzedek) to becoming b’nai mitzvah. In Team Tzedek, students and families create a community committed to improving the world through acts of loving kindness, community service, and advocacy for social change.  Each student learns as part of a chavurah of 7-10 families.  These chaverot will study together, participate in social action projects together, and create community together.  The students celebrate their B’nai Mitzvah as part of a group ceremony, in which they read Torah, share what they learned about the Jewish value of giving, and explain how engaging in gimilut chasadim has impacted their lives.

Lessons Learned

This track is the most “revolutionary” and it takes children and parents who are willing to buck the conventional B’nai Mitzvah model, in a community that places high value on the status quo.  This track is the one which families have been hesitant to embrace.  Children want B’nai Mitzvah similar to their older siblings and friends.  Parents want their children to be the “stars” for the day.

Program Info

Grade levels: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

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

Year Implemented: 2016

Areas:

  • Family Engagement
  • Innovative Ritual
  • Participating in Community
  • Repairing the World

About Us

Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim

Deerfield, IL

1100 family units

Reform Congregation

B’nai Mitzvah each year: 100+

Links

bjbe.org