After consultation with parents, teachers and students, we have designed an innovative two-year programme to support children as they prepare to take on the responsibilities of being a Jewish adult. This includes being able to read a Torah portion and, if appropriate, lead part of the shabbat morning service, although the overall goal is marking a rite of passage. We encourage our children to attend weekly classes. Where this is not possible, we ask them to come to our special monthly sessions. We enable our young people to be prepared and confident Jewish adults.
The Bnei Mitzvah programme is built around four key elements:
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monthly intensive learning sessions
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twice yearly residential
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a yearlong individual project
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informal, ad hoc social events.
The monthly intensive learning sessions are probably the most distinctive element of our B’nei Mitzvah programme. They start on Friday afternoon (5pm) with a session that explores that month’s theme, followed by the Friday evening service (6pm) - in which the students take part and to which parents are invited. This is followed by kiddush (6.45pm) and a chavurah potluck supper (7.00pm) with students and families. The evening concludes with a whole group discussion on the monthly theme – sometimes stimulated by input from a guest speaker.
The monthly learning session continues for students on Saturday morning (9.30am), exploring how one can apply what has been learned the previous evening. This is followed by Saturday morning service (11am) and community kiddush.
Two residential trips are provided for the Bnei Mitzvah students each year. The first, in the UK, has a focus on the students getting to know each other. The second is a 3-day weekend to a European city with Jewish interest. In the past four years, our students have visited Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin and Paris.
During the course of each year, the students will be required to participate in a tikkun olam (repairing the world) and/or a tzedakah (righteousness/charity) project.
Based on the interests of the members of the group we provide a number of social and cultural activities – as a way for the group to get to know each other better and for them to explore the wider world of Judaism.
Friday Night Programme
5.00 – 6.00 Topic introduction session and/or prayer workshop
6.00* – 7.00 Friday Evening Service and kiddush *6.30 Festival evenings
7.00 – 9.00 Chavurah Supper and discussion groups
Saturday Morning Programme
9.30 – 11.00 Applying what we have learned
11.00 – 12.15 Saturday Morning service
12.15 – 12.30 Kiddush
Dates are subject to change, additional events and outings may be scheduled during the year.
More for more information on our Bnei Mitzvah programme, please contact Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk at rebecca@westminstersynagogue.org.
