B’nai (Bar/Bat) Mitzvah
Each Bar/Bat Mitzvah at TBS is as unique and special as the child coming to Torah. All our students have studied Judaic Studies and Hebrew for at least four years prior to becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Prior to becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah, each family attends workshops during the 6th grade year to prepare for this life cycle with parental involvement. Each student, along with their parent(s)/guardian(s) chooses the service and all the music for our Saturday morning worship. In addition to reading from the Torah, our students also lead the service, and write a personal prayer which they share with the congregation. And their parent(s)/guardian(s) have the opportunity to pass the Torah to and offer prayers on behalf of their children. In the end, the entire service is unique for each family and focused on their Jewish child becoming a spiritual Jewish adult.
Becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah is not the end of learning for our students. We expect our students who become Bar or Bat Mitzvah to continue placing an importance on lifelong Jewish learning and continuing through our Confirmation and Post-Confirmation programs.
The Bar or Bat Mitzvah experience for each child is so wonderful that 95% of our TBS B’nai Mitzvah continue as students in our Confirmation and Post-Confirmation programs (from 8-12th grade).