B'nai Mitzvah

Our congregation welcomes members of any age (over 13) who want to further their knowledge of Judaism by preparing to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. It is our hope that through the process of preparing for the event, participants will discover their Jewish voice and bring a fuller meaning to their practice of Judaism. It is also important to us that an individual becomes a Bar/Bat Mitzvah in the context of our community.

In Jewish tradition, one does not have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah; one becomes a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Bar/Bat Mitzvah literally means "Son/Daughter of the commandment," and ritualizes the time during which a Jewish child accepts responsibility for following the mitzvot (commandments) and becomes an adult in the eyes of the Jewish community. We hope to create a meaningful rite of passage that balances challenging our youth appropriately and celebrating who they are.

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience loses much of its meaning when considered as an event unto itself. The process leading up to the event is as important, if not more so, as the day itself. Our guidelines for Jewish education are intended to set the stage for meaningful Jewish learning. This is why we require a foundation of Judaic knowledge and learning necessary for becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience offers not only the child but also the whole family a rewarding year of growth and study. We have outlined a minimum three-year education requirement designed to empower young Jewish adults with Jewish knowledge. CBH encourages all members to consider preparing for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Adults who would like to participate in a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony may arrange a course of study with the Rabbi.

We acknowledge that there are circumstances where these guidelines may be overwhelming. For example, for children and adults with special learning needs, CBH offers the opportunity to design a process together with the individual and/or his/her family that will sufficiently challenge but not occur as a barrier. This can be easily designed with the guidance of the rabbi and the approval of the education committee.

At CBH, we affirm that all Jewish people are entitled to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah.