What do you think?

Our students interviewed parents about their own bar/bat mitzvah experiences. Parents: Was it fun to go down memory lane a little bit? Did it help you clarify what you want for your own child?

Why do we celebrate becoming a bar/bat mitzvah?

This was the question for our first program. We discussed several possible answers:

1. It is a way to publicly mark that we are ready to take on new responsibilities in the community.
2. It is our heritage. We can't imagine NOT doing it.
3. It lets us share our joy with the community, family and friends with a kiddush or party.
4. It is a way to show our Jewish learning and talk about mitzvah projects.

We also shared a lot of memories and ideas about bar/bat mitzvah celebrations past and present. Parents remembered feeling very proud and important on their special day. Some parents acknowledged that only as an adult did they really understand the importance of the bar/bat mitzvah process. Special thanks to parents who shared stories of their adult bar/bat mitzvah.

The evaluations showed that this program got us all thinking! Thanks to the students for being such great interviewers.

Each child, along with their family, takes an individual journey to becoming a bar/bat mitzvah. Thanks to all the families that come back with younger children to walk the path anew.

Our first Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Program

Our first family program is scheduled for Sunday morning, October 26th. The title of the program is "The History and Meaning of Bar/Bat Mitzvah". Since part of the program is the chance for students to understand what the bar mitzvah experience was in earlier years, I always ask parents to bring in memorabilia related to their own simchas or simchas of other relatives. This can include pictures, invitations, certificates, gifts received or anything else related. We put the items on display and are returned at the end of the program.

It is always great fun to look at the haircuts and clothing styles and the kids love it!

I am hoping to use this blog as a place to share ideas about the bar/bat mitzvah journey at Beth El. I will try to answer questions that come up during our family programs and share any ideas from you or others.. Please feel free to comment and share ideas and experiences.

A child does not "have" a bar/bat mitzvah, but rather at the age of 13 "becomes" a bar mitzvah. This is an important distinction. We are very concerned about what our children are becoming and not so worried about what they have.