The B’nei Mitzvah Journey – To Be a Blessing!

B’NEI MITZVAH JOURNEY is led by Rabbah Riqi Kosovske. This is a lively, joyous, creative peer cohort that meets bimonthly on Thursday evenings from 5:00-6:30 p.m. The group is for students whose B’nei Mitzvah* celebration will be scheduled for some time in the upcoming one-two years.  Vegetarian/vegan pizza dinner is provided by families.  The B’nei Mitzvah Journey involves learning and doing — it is in an exciting time in the development of a young person’s growth and the family and parenting that evolves with them.  Synagogue involvement includes running the Purim shpiel, services and holidays, reading Torah, Tzedek Tzedek River clean up, and many other projects.

*Beit Ahavah is LGBTQ+/All-gender-inclusive and celebratory.  We use the words Bar/Bat/Bet/B’nei/Brit/+ Mitzvah and will support all teens in choosing or creating the nomenclature that best expresses their Jewish journey.

Being called up to the Torah is an amazing thing, and every person should be excited for that moment when your soul shines!

       *Please REGISTER here.*

B’nei Mitzvah Journey is more than a “class” or a destination  “service.” It includes Jewish group experiential learning including:  

• Parents engage a B’nei Mitzvah private tutor/mentor to teach reading and leading Hebrew prayers and chanting their Torah portion;
• Students engage in a holistic family approach with the rabbi to design your service, decide whether it will be traditional or DIY, whether in our beautiful sanctuary or outdoors in the beautiful backyard;
• Work with Rabbi Riqi in a creative approach to write a unique and meaningful D’var Torah (sermon/speech) about your Torah portion’s relevance today;
• Develop a Tikkun Olam (repair the world) project combining student’s unique passions with the issues on your mind and heart that “keep you up at night”;
• Family and student attendance at Shabbat services and holiday celebrations/services;
• Attend RUACH community school learning through 7th grade;
• Jewish community and synagogue engagement — lots at Beit Ahavah and wider Valley community;
• Families are members (partners) of the synagogue.  There is no additional fee, of course, for meetings with the rabbah, or for holding your after-service Kiddush lunch in the beautiful building that we share with Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity and Florence Congregational Church.  However, there is a $250 celebration event fee (set by the Board) that covers additional day-of costs such as custodial staff, compostable goods, tech staff, and other day-of needs.
• We are so lucky to be a synagogue that has a B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator: Megan Zinn!  Megan helps you reserve a date for the service (usually chosen a year or year and a half in advance), arranges volunteers to usher and support your family with logistics, and gives a lot of guidance and support:
• Participation in Jewish teen and tween programming;
• Encouragement to go to Jewish summer camp (Rabbi can suggest wonderful specialized options);
• Our B’nei Mitzvah grads get a $3,250 off certificate for a progressive Judaism teen trip to Israel from URJ and Root One! 
• Social and family-friendship fun stuff that lasts well beyond adolescence!  B’nei Mitzvah families arrange Shabbat dinners, Havdalah hangouts, outings and “B’nei Mitz Kibbitz” for parents.  Join us!

Please contact Rabbah Riqi to embark on your child’s B’nei Mitzvah Journey.