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(Surprised? or have your own question?) 16. Bar/Bat Mitzvah has always been a goal of Reform Jewish education. In early Reform Jewish practice, Confirmation replaced Bar Mitzvah, which was not celebrated. Bat Mitzvah did not exist as an option. Girls were included in the Confirmation ceremony. "Today, Confirmation is observed on or near Shavuot and services as graduation from religious school. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony is also observed and is a meaningful and traditional way to mark the beginning of puberty and the accomplishment of a degree of Hebrew proficiency. Parents should emphasize the sanctity of the occasion and should not demand it by undue emphasis on the social aspects of the celebration. While kiddush and the sharing of a festival meal (seudat mitzvah) are customs of long standing, ostentation and lavish display should be avoided. The sanctity of the day can be enhanced for the celebrant and his/her parents through a generous act of tzedakah. "Under no circumstances should Bar/Bat Mitzvah mark the conclusion of a child's Jewish education. Parents should help their children understand the richness and vastness of the Jewish heritage and the obligation to continue formal Jewish education through confirmation and where available through high school." (Gates of Mitzvah p.21)
Next question:
From "Understanding the Challenge of Reform Judaism: A Workshop for Teachers." UAHC, Editors: Gail Teicher Fellus and Rabbi Nina Mizrahi. Used by permission of the UAHC Press. |
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