B'nei Mitzvah Preparation

Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Beth Am
Beit Midrash
Eligibility
New to Beth Am
After Becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Resources

Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Beth Am: Celebrating becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Beth Am is an important step towards becoming a knowledgeable Jew. Our B’nei Mitzvah preparation process includes a minimum of four years of study in our Youth Education programs.

Approximately 24 months before your child’s 13th birthday (usually the spring of the 5th grade year), you will receive a Bar/Bat Mitzvah date packet. At that time you will be invited to fill out and return a form indicating your preferred dates for your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah service. You will also have the opportunity to choose a partner (another student who will share the Bar/Bat Mitzvah with your child). If you prefer, we can select a partner for your child. After you have returned the form listing your preferences, you will receive a written confirmation of your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah date and partner.

Students prepare to lead a congregational worship service, to chant from the Torah and Haftarah (Prophets) portions of the day, and to teach about the Torah or Prophets portion by writing a D’var Torah or D’var Haftarah. These years of study impart the knowledge, skills and confidence for a successful Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration. Most important, they help our students develop a strong connection to the Beth Am community and lay the foundation for a positive lifelong Jewish identity.

At Congregation Beth Am we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to celebrate becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. We know that not all students learn the same way, they do not have the same natural talents or abilities, and they come from very different life experiences. We are committed to working with every student, and to making this event a truly positive and enriching experience for every family. Contact: B'nei Mitzvah Coordinator

Beit Midrash Program: The final seven months of preparation happen in our Beit Midrash program, our cohort-based B'nei Mitzvah preparation program. Students meet weekly to learn and practice their prayers with our tutors, madrichim, and Cantor Shpall. Learn more about Beit Midrash.

Eligibility: Students become eligible for Bar/Bat Mitzvah upon:

1. Reaching their 13th birthday.
2. Completion of four years in our Youth Education Programs or Jewish Day School. If you are new to our community, please reach out to us as Jewish education in another setting may also be counted.
3. B’nei Mitzvah students must attend our Youth Education Programs throughout the entirety of the 7th grade year.

Jewish Day School Students: Jewish day school students may waive our enrollment requirement, although attendance in our programs and participation in our Beit Midrash helps students make friends in the Beth Am community.

New to Beth Am: For families new to the area, enrollment in another accredited Jewish Education program for the requisite years will be accepted toward Beth Am’s four-year requirement.

After Becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a milestone — not a termination point. Students who become Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Beth Am are strongly encouraged to continue their Jewish education at Beth Am, through high school. Our young people continue to mature intellectually and emotionally throughout their teenage years. Their Jewish learning should continue during these critical years, as well, so that they can develop a solid, adult understanding of our faith and traditions.