Jewish life revolves around the cycle of life. While daily spiritual living is cherished, it’s the unique moments that bring us together and remind us of what matters. In the Jewish tradition, lifecycle moments from birth to death carry specific rituals, most of which have been used for centuries. Following are the resources that…
Dear Helen I help writing a speech. I am an adult woman (45 in November) who decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of being b’nai mitzvah. Long family drama short: my father died before my 13th birthday and my grandparents and mother were in such shock that the whole celebration was cancelled as inappropriate. In…
Most of us were introduced to marshmallows around a campfire when someone handed us a decadent treat with the fluffy white confection sandwiched between golden graham crackers with melted chocolate oozing out – behold the s’more. Today, gourmet marshmallows are popping up as party favors and at candy stations at bar and bat mitzvahs across…
Oregon Jewish Community Foundation has created a new program designed to instill the tradition of giving at a formative time in a young person’s life. B’nai Tzedek Teen Charitable Giving Funds encourage teens to become involved in tzedakah by establishing an OJCF fund for Jewish charitable giving at the time of their bar or bat…
Photo: Olivia Schottenstein’s bat mitzvah service with WOW, from Rosh Hodesh Tamuz 2018. Photo courtesy Hila Shiloni Rosner For many young women, preparing for one’s bat mitzvah ceremony can be daunting: learning the intricate trope to confidently chant the Torah portion, bracing oneself to deliver a speech before the congregation, considering the weight of becoming…
PHOTO: Eddy Shuldman and her parents at her bat mitzvah (1966). OJM 07171 The tradition of girls having bat mitzvah ceremonies in the United States is relatively new. Bat mitzvahs weren’t customary until the 1960s, and it took until the 1980s for it to be commonplace for girls to read from the Torah. The…
PHOTO: A girl celebrates her bat mitzvah at the Western Wall with Women of the Wall. PHOTO BY MIRI TZACH You might be surprised to learn that egalitarian prayer services, including celebrations of bar/bat mitzvahs, continue regularly at the Kotel (Western Wall). Lost amid the controversy concerning the Government of Israel’s decision to renege on its…
You’ve spent years learning the alef bet, months studying your Torah portion and countless hours completing your mitzvah project … now you get to celebrate! For many freshly minted Jewish “adults,” that means a glamorous party full of glitz and glitter. Others want another shot at a favorite activity of their youth (which in reality…
Many students are required to complete a mitzvah project, but the challenge is in finding a project that will be meaningful and truly connect the students to a great cause in Israel. We spoke with Michael Leventhal, executive director of the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind. He says, “Many students are drawn to…
“Horses have a huge impact on my life, so I thought it would be cool to have an impact on theirs,” says Audrey Minch of the trio of projects she and her twin, Abigail, undertook for their b’nai mitzvah. The twins first heard about the plight of the mustangs when they were in fourth…
