You know what they say about “small packages”? Temple Or Olam is a small congregation, and that means that each bar and bat mitzvah is special to us – a real simcha that the entire congregation shares with you and your family. You can pick your own date for your child’s bar/bat mitzvah, and you won’t have to share a date – unless you want to.
- Personal tutoring. Every student is tutored by our dynamic rabbi, Dr. Barbara Thiede, in one-on-one sessions.
- Digging deep. B’nai mitzvah students at Temple Or Olam don’t learn just how to chant Torah portions and sing prayers. They explore what the prayers mean, and how they fit into the service. They study the structure of the Hebrew Bible, so they know how their parsha fits into the big picture. They study their parsha during the year preceding their bar/bat mitzvah, along with commentary and midrash. By the time students are called to the Torah they have become experts on the text they chant. This deep knowledge is reflected in the comments that the students share with the congregation. Forget the cookie-cutter bar mitzvah speech you’ve heard so many times. This isn’t a “speech.” It’s a “teach.”
- Practice makes perfect. Our relaxed, welcoming Friday evening services are a great way for our students to hone their skills. As soon as they learn a prayer, they are invited to lead it at our services. This is not just a way to help the student get more comfortable leading prayers – it’s also a way for our congregation to share in the whole b’nai mitzvah process with each child. We’re proud of the kids in our congregation and it shows.
- It’s never too late. If your family has just rediscovered Judaism and your teenager hasn’t had Hebrew instruction before, don’t worry. If a student has the commitment and is willing to put in the time, learning can begin now. It’s perfectly fine to celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah at age 17…or age 71. We will help.
- Tikkun Olam. Part of our program is a Mitzvah project. What can they do? There are a world of options. Some choose to be assistant teachers at the Temple Or Olam religious school. Others have served in homeless shelters. We like to find out where our students’ interests lie, and follow up on where they lead.
- Customized bar/bat mitzvah service. We don’t believe in standardizing the process. The service our students lead reflect who they are as individuals. Is it more meaningful for her to say certain prayers in English – of her own translation? No problem. Does he want to play guitar as he leads prayers? We’d love it. Would she like to call her little brother up to recite the Shema with her? We think you know the answer. We want each student to mark the beginning of Jewish adulthood in a meaningful, moving, and authentic way.
