By Lisa Gersten, eJewishPhilanthropy, August 29, 2013.
What if the bar or bat mitzvah signaled a teen’s entry into an ongoing gathering of Jewish peers led by an inspiring mentor who helped them discuss the very real challenges they face in their everyday lives?
What if a teen’s bar or bat mitzvah signified the moment when he or she formed a Jewish community of his or her own, a place where confidences were held and members actually supported each other?