Raising the Bar: Re-Imagine the B’nai Mitzvah Celebration

From Section:

Informal Education

Authors:

StorahTelling

Published:

Mar. 14, 2010

2010

Based on four years of pilot programs with families in New York City, Los Angeles, Jerusalem and London, Storahtelling is proud to present Raising the Bar – serving the B’nai Mitzvah experience with an innovative, personalized program that re-imagines the process and product of the B’nai Mitzvah milestone. Storahtelling works with both unaffiliated and affiliated families, within and beyond traditional settings.

In 2010-2011 Raising the Bar offers three programs focusing on B’nai Mitzvah Education:

· Private Family Cohorts – New York, Los Angeles

· Synagogue Education Track – New York, San Francisco

· Train the B’nai Mitzvah Trainers Program – New York, Los Angeles, Israel

Raising the Bar: Methodology

Raising the Bar enables B’nai Mitzvah students to develop and deliver a “maven” program during their Bar/Bat Mitzvah Torah Service, re-framing the learning process from memorization to interpretation and investigation of the relevance of Torah and Jewish values to their contemporary reality.

The program is designed to invite B’nai Mitzvah students and their families to make personal meaning of the narratives and rituals of this family celebration.

Storahtelling works with teens and families of all backgrounds and Judaic literacy levels to ensure that both prep/study process and the celebration of the event reflect the values, needs and priorities of each family, as families perform and share this most significant religious and cultural milestone.

Raising the Bar: Timeline

· (12-18 months)

· Step 1 – Introduction to high-level process and themes – Months 1 & 2

· Step 2 – Exploration of Torah text and context – Months 3 & 4

· Step 3 – Crafting personal perspective and ‘big idea’ – Months 5 & 6

· Step 4 – Develop Translation and personal project – Months 7 & 8

· Step 5 – focus on liturgy and ritual – Months 9 & 10

· Step 6 – Rehearse and Review – Months 11 & 12

· Step 7 – Celebrate!

· Step 8 - Reflect – Post B’nai Mitzvah event, focus on personal/Community project (Months 13-18)

Updated: Feb. 07, 2017

Keywords:

Arts | Bar Mitzvah | Bat Mitzvah