B’nai Mitzvah
JCP B’Nai Mitzvah: A Year of Discovery, Growth, and Celebration
We believe that the moment a young person comes becomes bar or bat mitzvah is most meaningful when celebrated in the context of a loving community and a rich learning experience. We believe that preparation for this moment should include the child, the family, and a community of peers, and takes place over a twelve month period.The learning program prepares the child for their celebration and JCP staff will help each family find the right venue and ceremony structure that suits their needs from the several available
Upon successful completion of the program, each student will:
- Know the major prayer rubrics of the Shabbat morning service
- Know to chant their Torah and Haftarah portions
- Have completed a social action project
- Have the skills necessary to be called to the Torah on the day of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration
Read this years B’nai Mitzvah Blog, click here.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
B’nai Mitzvah Students enroll in the Kesher Program and meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from either 4:00 – 6:00 OR 4:45 – 6:45 PM at JCP. Students are invited to enroll in this program during their 6th grade year.
The B’nai Mitzvah program is based on the three pillars of Jewish tradition that teaches that the world was created on three things: Torah (learning), Avodah (worship) and Gimilut Chasadim (social action). During the sixth grade year, B’nai Mitzvah Training takes place at JCP during the regular scheduled Kesher hours on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Individual tutoring begins 4-6 months prior to the student’s B’nai Mitzvah celebration to refine prayer skills and Torah and Haftarah readings.
PRIVATE TUTORS
4-6 months prior to the child’s ceremony, depending on skill levels, private tutors will begin training students in their torah and haftarah portions, reviewing all prayers, and preparing child for their individual celebration. JCP will also help match private tutors with families and students who wish to plan an alternative b’nai mitzvah celebration outside of the above program.
IMPORTANT PDF DOWNLOADS
JCP B’nai Mitzvah Resource Guide
2009-2010 Calendar
JCP B’NAI MITZVAH TASK FORCE
Linda Gottesfeld, Amy Katz, Rabbi Darren Levine, Blake Vaknin, Patricia Willens
For more information and to talk more, please contact Darren at darren@jcpdowntown.org or 212-334-3522.