Depending on the assigned date of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah, students generally begin tutoring for their Bat or Bar Mitzvah at the end of their 6th grade year or the beginning of their 7th grade year. (Please note: Though most students have spent sufficient time studying Hebrew and have made sufficient progress in acquiring Hebrew reading skills, ultimately decisions about preparedness for B’nai Mitzvah training are made jointly by the Rabbi and the Education Director).

Over the course of ten months, students review and/or learn to lead prayers to lead Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat services. As well, they learn to chant their Torah and their Haftarah portion. Depending on the rate of learning and the students’ level of comfort, the Torah and/or Haftarah portion might be longer or shorter. We want the experience of Bat and Bar Mitzvah to be a memorable one, so we do our best to aim our training level toward the individual child, encouraging them to try their hardest, to do their best, and to push slightly outside their comfort zone without creating undue tension or stress for the student or the family.

Towards the end of the ten months, the student works privately with Rabbi on their d’var Torah. Rabbi also oversees the student’s mitzvah project -- a project that is of the student’s choosing that helps them to understand their power in effecting change locally and/or globally.

Finally, we work with our students in helping them have a sense of ownership over this rite of passage, to feel comfortable on the bimah, to project confidence and joy, and to make this experience very much their own.