Off-the-Bimah B-Mitzvah Program

Is your family seeking a meaningful Bar, Bat, or B-Mitzvah program for your child? The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan offers a two-year B-Mitzvah program that ushers your child into young Jewish adulthood and lays the groundwork for continuing active participation in the Jewish community. The program is available for children in Grades 6 and 7 with two tuition options: one for participation in the ceremony and one for families who wish to pursue an independent ceremony. This program is led by Rabbi Nadia Gold.

Details for Year 1

• Weekly Core Class: Debate Club and Holidays. These core classes are a weekly 75-minute commitment. The classes take place on Tuesdays, 4:30-5:45 pm. These classes are taught by Rabbi Gold. If there is enough interest, we can hold another class on Wednesdays.

• Hebrew Homepage: 24-hour-long private online sessions that cover the Hebrew language and a Jewish student unit on either Jewish Values: People Who Live by Them or History’s Mysteries.

• Family Programs: Every semester offers families an opportunity to participate in a caregiver/child workshop either at the JCC or outside.

Details for Year 2

Year 2 follows a similar structure as our Year 1 program. At the end of the year, you may opt into a cohort B-Mitzvah ceremony where families celebrate together in a unique ceremony at the The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Families may also celebrate their child’s B-Mitzvah in an independent ceremony.

Students in Year 2 participate in the following offerings: 

• Weekly Core Class: Fall Remembering to Rebuild: The Holocaust to the State of Israel These core classes are a weekly 75-minute commitment. Classes are either Mondays or Thursdays, 4:30-5:45 pm. Classes are taught by Rabbi Gold.

• Private B-Mitzvah Preparation: Each student works virtually with a tutor to learn their Torah chantings, and blessings, write a D'var Torah, and create an extension project. Every student gets 24 sessions included in tuition. This is a weekly 45-minute commitment. 

• Family Learning: Students and their caregivers come together up to three times throughout the year, enabling families to strengthen their relationships and delve into Jewish learning together.

For more information about the Off-the-Bimah B'nai Mitzvah program, contact Rabbi Nadia Gold at ngold@mmjccm.org. Registration opens May 31, and classes begin mid-September 2024.