Overview: Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Describe characteristics of healthy and supportive friendships; Describe the role of a friend and why it is important to have friends; Reflect on Jewish teachings about friendship
Overview: Objectives: Participants will be able to think critically about social and cultural messages they receive about competition; Reflect on the drawbacks and benefits of the various competitions (academic, athletic, artistic, etc.) that they are pursuing, or might pursue, in the future
Overview: Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Think critically about what it means to be “intelligent” Reflect on the different messages they receive about intellectual standing and achievement as boys from the media, parents, peers, teachers, and from Jewish tradition; Understand and consider the value of emotional intelligence
A session for b-mitzvah students about the challenges of dressing up, performing, and being true to yourself. In this session, we ask the questions: What does it mean to be the center of attention? Why do some people like it and dislike it? Why do some people treat boys and girls differently in terms of…
This session is connected to the idea of the b-mitzvah photo montage. It has each student looking back at childhood to ask: What were some of the events and memories that shaped childhood? What choices did they make? What were moments of deep learning? The session reflects on the transition inherent in the life cycle of b-mitzvah and exploring…
Summary: Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Reconnect with other group members and share experiences from summer vacation. Revisit group guidelines and revise, if needed, for the upcoming year. Learn to balance the need for perfection and wholeness while practicing self-compassion and awareness.
Updated 2024. Objectives: Families will explore different ways of doing a “mitzvah project” and the differences between Chesed, Tzedakah and Tzedek. Preteens will think more about their own project in relation to their b-mitzvah. Parents will consider what aspects of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, are most meaningful to them.
Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to: Describe the cultural and social elements that impact how girls feel and talk about themselves. Employ short-term tactics and identify long-term approaches for feeling confident about themselves.
At a Glance: Objectives: At the end of the session participants will be able to: Describe what to expect from this year of Rosh Hodesh; Reflect on the transition from middle school to high school and how they feel about this change; Feel empowered to explore new ways to practice Judaism in a personally meaningful…
Objectives: Participants will understand the experience of becoming a b-mitzvah as becoming a teenager and becoming the parent of a teenager; Participants will be able to articulate their family’s and community’s values around the b-mitzvah experience; Parents and preteens will explore what they are excited about and nervous about in relation to the preteen’s b-mitzvah
