B MITZVAH

A milestone for Jewish youth... the centerpiece of our Curriculum.

Infused with music and spirit (ruach), B Mitzvah celebrations with SCJ are engaging, artistic, relevant, and focused on the youth and family.

Children and adults tell us after every service that SCJ provides the warmest, happiest, most fun and easy-to-follow B Mitzvah ceremony they have ever attended. Through the close relationship Rabbi Misha develops with each of the school’s B Mitzvah students, the service comes to life with down-to-earth spirituality, filled with music from the highest caliber New York City musicians.

B Mitzvah preparation focuses on Jewish tools ~ preparing for the ceremony itself ~ and Jewish knowledge ~ an intellectual exploration of Judaism, stemming from the Torah portion and culminating in the writing of the D’var Torah (literally words of Torah). The family takes an active role in the cultural and spiritual exploration, while the B Mitzvah engages in a Mitzvah Project focusing on social justice.

During the typical study period of 9-12 months, each student learns to read & write Hebrew, recite blessings and prayers, and chant from the Torah (and sometimes the Haftarah as well). SCJ has developed a personalized method of learning the musical language of the Torah, known as Trope (cantillation), through which students acquire a life-long skill that enables them to chant any passage.

Students emerge from their studies prepared for the ceremony, confident in their skills, and with a positive view of the experience!

And if they want to continue their learning . . .

BEYOND B MITZVAH

Jewish learning after B Mitzvah?

Absolutely!

CONTINUED LEARNING SCJ

B Mitzvah is an opening to a lifetime of Jewish learning, and many continue their studies for at least one year after their event, either one on one or in small groups. A program of study is developed jointly by the student and teacher, according to each student’s interests. Topics vary widely and in the past have included:

  • Conversational Hebrew

    1. Yiddish literature and culture

    2. Israeli politics

    3. Science and Spirituality

    4. The relationship between Man and Nature in the Torah

    5. Human attempts to prove the existence of God

Following your child(ren)’s B Mitzvah celebration, SCJ will reach out to you to discuss the possibility of continued studies.

A NEW COHORT @ THE NEW SHUL

The New Shul (TNS) is excited to announce the formation of their first post-B Mitzvah cohort, which will begin in the Fall of 2022!

Led by Rabbi Misha, the group will meet regularly throughout the year to learn together, engage in various activities and social justice projects, and just hang out and relax.

For more information or to register your newly-minted Jewish adult, please contact us here or email Susan Meyers, TNS Executive Director (susan@newshul.org).