Children’s B’nei Mitzvah Program

The Children’s B’nei Mitzvah Program is designed for, and open to, all children ages 10 to 13.  However, participation in the program is required for any child who desires to complete the Bar/Bat Mitzvah training and make Aliyah to the Torah.  The program builds upon previous training and seeks to prepare children to participate in synagogue life in terms of prayer and service at age 13.

The Children’s B’nei Mitzvah Program is designed to facilitate the educational, personal, and spiritual development of the students through the following areas:

• Hebrew Training – All children may begin Biblical Hebrew training at age 10.  It is necessary that students have a good grasp on reading and are able to fully participate in a classroom setting by this age.  Each child begins with learning the Alef Bet and progresses through 3 additional classes in which the language is further developed through the study of various prayers and blessings.  The last class of the program includes learning the methods of cantillation.  

Learn More about Hebrew Classes

• Jewish Studies Class – The Jewish Studies Program is a five-semester course designed for students ages 10–13. It offers a strong foundation in understanding and summarizing Scripture through weekly Torah portion studies and active class discussions. Students explore the richness of Jewish roots of their faith, history, and community life in a meaningful and age-appropriate way. While the course is required for those preparing for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, all students in this age group are encouraged to attend to deepen their knowledge of the Messianic faith.
  The five semesters include:
  1. Yesodot – Foundations
     Introduces key elements of the faith, including an overview of the Bible, the books of the Torah, the Patriarchs, the five covenants, the 13 Attributes of God, Yeshua’s lineage, a survey of His teachings and miracles, and the concepts of salvation, sanctification, and glorification. The semester concludes with a comprehensive final exam.
  2. Jewish History 1
     This is a foundational course history course that invites students on a journey through the rich and inspiring story of the Jewish people—from their earliest ancestors in the Land of Israel to life in the Diaspora and the Jewish experience in 19th-century America. This course introduces key people, places, and events that have shaped Jewish life across time and cultures.
  3. Jewish History 2
     Continues the historical journey, focusing on Jewish life in the Diaspora, the growth of Jewish communities, and key events shaping modern Jewish identity. Students will examine the emergence of Zionism, the founding of the modern State of Israel, and key developments in contemporary Jewish life around the world. As part of a comprehensive Jewish history series, this volume offers a thoughtful look at the challenges and triumphs that have shaped modern Jewish identity and community from the late 1800s to modern day Jewish identity.
  4. Messianic Life
     This class examines the life, teachings, and redemptive mission of Yeshua within the Jewish context. Students will explore the life, teachings, and redemptive mission of Yeshua within the Jewish context. The class will examine how the Biblical calendar—Pesach (Passover), Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the Feast of Tabernacles, and more—reveals deeper truths about Yeshua’s role as Messiah. Students will also learn the meaning and purpose of traditional Shabbat liturgy and practice age-appropriate elements such as reciting the Four Questions of Pesach.
  5. Community Life: Explores how Jewish values are lived out in daily life and within the congregation. This course is divided into three key areas:
     • Beit HaT’filah (House of Prayer): Introduces students to the meaning of prayer, understanding liturgy as a form of prayer, and active participation in congregational worship.
     • Beit Knesset (House of Assembly): Focuses on the biblical foundation for the call to serve, exploring spiritual gifts, completing a Spiritual Gifts Assessment, and identifying areas of service for youth within the congregation.
     • Beit Midrash (House of Study): Helps students understand their personal heritage and identity by addressing foundational questions such as: What does it mean to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? What does it mean to be a Jew? What does it mean to be a Gentile?

Register for Jewish Studies Here

• Mitzvah Projects – The program also offers all students to participate in projects of “good deeds”.  While the word “mitzvah” means “commandment”, the idea of doing a mitzvah or mitzvot is the idea of expressing the will of G-d through the act of service.  It is a way to build upon the ideas and principles of ministry that is desired of all G-d’s children.
• Service Projects – The Children’s B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator will apprise students, at the appropriate age, of ministry within the congregation in which children can serve.

* In addition to the above requirements the student desiring to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and their parent/guardian(s) will:

• Attend the B’nei Mitzvah Program orientation held each August and January.

• Attend a meeting (parents and student) with the B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator.  During this meeting the requirements of the program will be discussed, the student’s birth portion will be determined, the Aliyah date will be assigned, and the details of a simcha will be discussed.  

• Attend two Drash Writing Workshops.

• Write a drash regarding their assigned Torah reading.

• Meet with an assigned Rabbi.

• Attend an Aliyah rehearsal.

This program is run every semester (Fall & Spring) according to the Shabbat School schedule. Click here for class calendar.