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