Initial Letter to Parents
A New Approach to B–Mitzvah
Our synagogue is partnering with Moving Traditions (www.movingtraditions.org) to pioneer a new family education-focused approach to b-mitzvah that connects Jewish wisdom to the inter-personal and social elements that come up as our children enter the teen years—and the additional challenges of doing so in the time of a pandemic.
The Moving Traditions sessions – created by rabbis, social workers, and educators – aim to help you and your preteen to explore what it means to celebrate this milestone, to be the center of attention during a life cycle ritual, to navigate expectations from friends and family, to find Jewish meaning in the ceremony, as well as looking at other social-emotional challenges and the joys associated with the b-mitzvah. These sessions will take place either in person or online, depending on the current social distancing guidelines.
We hope that your participation in the Moving Traditions family education sessions will enrich your child’s experience—and your own—marking the b-mitzvah as a life cycle transition into “becoming a teen” that leads to personal growth and positive communal connection.
For Synagogue Newsletters
For 6th & 7th Graders and Their Families
Our synagogue is partnering with Moving Traditions to pioneer a new and exciting approach to b-mitzvah that connects Jewish wisdom to the interpersonal and social elements of this coming-of-age ritual.
FILL IN QUOTE FROM YOUR CLERGY OR EDUCATION DIRECTOR ABOUT HOW THIS EXPANDS ON THE CURRENT B-MITZVAH PROGRAM AND ANY PAST EXPERIENCE WITH MOVING TRADITIONS’ TEEN GROUPS, ROSH HODESH, SHEVET, OR TZELEM.
This year we’ll be adding Moving Traditions’ family education and preteen sessions to our b-mitzvah preparation. Through games, activities and discussion, the Moving Traditions’ sessions—created by rabbis and social workers—will help parents and preteens explore what it means to to celebrate this milestone, to be the center of attention during a life cycle ritual, to navigate expectations from friends and family, to find Jewish meaning in the ceremony, as well as exploring other social-emotional challenges and joys associated with the b-mitzvah. To accompany the family sessions, Moving Traditions has developed a special six-part podcast series for parents, titled “@13” that you can find on iTunes or Spotify.
ADD DATES AND OTHER INFORMATION FOR FAMILY SESSIONS.
Moving Traditions’ mission is to embolden Jewish youth to thrive through the pursuit of personal wellbeing (shleimut), caring relationships (hesed), and a Jewish and feminist vision of equity and justice (tzedek).. Working with communal partners across the country, Moving Traditions’ educational programs have impacted the lives of more than 31,000 teens.
Videos
Please note these videos were filmed prior to changing the name of the program to B-Mitzvah Family Education.