B’nai Mitzvah

“Becoming a b’nai mitzvah is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and represents a symbolic entryway into greater learning in the adult Jewish community. It is a time of beginning a new stage in one’s Jewish life and was never intended to be an end to education or involvement– it’s rather meant to celebrate the beginning of one’s adult Jewish journey.” –ReformJudaism.org

When a child turns 13, they are eligible to become a B’nai Mitzvah (literal translation: child of a commandment). Technically, one becomes a B’nai Mitzvah when they are called up to chant the blessings over the Torah (called an aliyah). At Kol Tikvah, a B’nai Mitzvah ceremony is not just a special day when a child leads a Shabbat prayer service, has an aliyah, and reads from the Torah. At Kol Tikvah, a B’nai Mitzvah ceremony commemorates the Jewish learning a child has already begun while looking ahead towards the growth they have yet to accomplish. To become a B’nai Mitzvah is to celebrate a milestone on a journey of questioning, reflecting, and developing as a Jewish person and as a good person. 

To guide your child in the process of becoming a B’nai Mitzvah that works best for your family and with your schedule, we offer two B’nai Mitzvah tracks: B’nai Mitzvah Revolution (BMR) and Yad B’Yad: An Individualized B’nai Mitzvah program. 

We are so appreciative to be with you on this journey– every step of the way.