Rabbi Modek
Ceremonies
Individualized Bar & Bat Mitzvah Preparation & ceremony
Bar/Bat MITZVAH
Rabbi Modek did a great job preparing Jake for the ceremony. Jake had a thorough overview of Judaism’s history, and traditions. Jake wanted to learn Hebrew. With the Rabbi’s skillful instruction and much practice he actually was able to accomplish it. The ceremony was super meaningful for both Jake and our family. We also appreciated it that with Rabbi Modek we could “break the mold”, because our family had stepped away from conventional religion, and chose to creatively reconnect when Jake was already 17.Justin Greisberg, Father, Blauvelt NY
PREPARATION FOR BAR AND BAT MITZVAH IS ISRAEL
For the Jewish pre-teen the Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah is a ceremony celebrating the coming of age of the Bar Mitzvah child, when he or she is entering into the world of Jewish adulthood and the begins to acquire greater all around personal independence.
The process of preparing the Bar Mitzvah child incorporates a variety of aspects:
- Strengthening the Bar and Bat Mitzvah child’s emotional Jewish roots.
- Introducing the Bar and Bat Mitzvah child to her mythical and cultural connection to Israel.
- Tutoring the Bar and Bat Mitzvah child in basic Jewish ceremonial skills
BAR AND BAT MITZVAH PREPARATION APPROACHES
There are two common approaches to Bar Mitzvah tutoring:
- The mainstream synagogue approach, where the Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah students are celebrated during a service at a local US Temple
- The creative Israel approach when each Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah child is tutored by an English speaking Rabbi from Israel via Zoom, followed by a trip and a ceremony at one of several exotic Jewish sites in the land of Israel.
Both approaches carry unique advantages. The synagogue Hebrew School Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah experience exposes the child to the normative US Jewish community experience. The adventurous Israel track allows for an experience that is personal and carefully tailored to the student’s strengths and interests. The awesome adventure of traveling around Israel, enhances the Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremony by turning it into a once in a lifetime very special experience. It allows the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah child to reach his or her highest learning potential while deepening the family’s connection to the Jewish story through a unique engagement with Israeli history and Israeli reality.
BAR AND BAT MITZVAH TRACK DEEPER OBJECTIVES
For a tree to blossom, it needs roots. Just like a tree, positive identity and values development too need roots. When the Bar or Bat Mitzvah child starts his or her learning process she begins the
natural journey of setting deep roots into the Jewish cultural and/or religious soil allowing his or her “identity tree” to grow strong.
The Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah child will acquire the skills necessary for delivering a D’var Torah (speech), for chanting from the Torah, and for reciting a prayer or several prayers.
The program additionally prepares the Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah child to take his or her place as an adult in the Jewish community. Jewish adult privileges and responsibilities are discussed as well as Jewish identity and the child’s place in his or her Jewish lineage. A emphasis is placed on understanding our Jewish connection to Israel as a historical homeland as well as a mythical ground from which our entire long lasting culture hassprung up.
BAR AND BAT MITZVAH CIRCLES INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD
The student will meet weekly with the Rabbi on Zoom, typically on a Sunday morning. Each Bar Mitzvah training meeting lasts 60 minutes. The child and family will use a shared online notebook (google drive) for written work and posted resources. The learning is engaging, personalized, and curated to the child’s strengths and curiosity. Our basic program spans 15 tutorial sessions and does not include Hebrew language instruction. A 30 session track is available for those interested in basic Hebrew skills and a more thorough review of Jewish history.
Questions? Call 317-8743106