Off-the-Bimah B’nai Mitzvah Program

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The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan offers a two-year B'nai 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

Tuition for 2023–24 is $3,100, which includes:

  • 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 we have enough interest, we can open another class on Wednesdays.

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

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

To reserve a spot in the Year 1 Tuesday 4:30–5:45 pm section, click here


Details for Year 2

For families who wish to participate in the Off-the-Bimah ceremony, the 2023–24 tuition is $7,100. This includes lunch for up to 20 guests, family photography, Zoom access, and more. 

This is a cohort ceremony wherein up to seven families celebrate together in a unique ceremony at the Meyerson JCC.

For families who wish to celebrate their child's B-Mitzvah in an independent ceremony, the 2022–23 tuition is $4,500; this cost excludes fees that pertain to the ceremony itself.

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 chanting, 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.

To reserve a spot in the Year 2 Monday 4:30–5:45 pm section, click here.

To reserve a spot in the Year 2 Thursday 4:30–5:45 pm section, click here.


For more information about the Off-the-Bimah B'nai Mitzvah program, contact Rabbi Nadia Gold, Director of the Off-the-Bimah B'Nai Mitzvah Program, at ngold@mmjccm.org.

To learn about after-school Jewish enrichment courses for ages 7–11, click here.

For more information, contact Rabbi Nadia Gold, Director of the Off-the-Bimah B'Nai Mitzvah Program.

Click the button below to learn more about after-school Jewish enrichment courses for ages 7–11.