B'nai Mitzvah

B’nai mitzvah parties so dominate the social lives of teens in New York City that, according to a New York Times article, non-Jewish families are holding “faux mitzvahs” for their envious offspring. What is a b’nai mitzvah supposed to be? How did it end up like this? Read our overview to learn more, and check out the many new ways families are meaningfully enhancing their b’nai mitzvah celebrations.

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Prayers for b’nai mitzvah students and their parent(s), rabbis, and teachers to be said before and during the b’nai mitzvah celebration

Original blessing for children in Hebrew and English

Watch this video to learn some traditional steps for this joyous circle dance!

This blessing includes options for crafting the blessing to suit various family configurations

“May you soak up every drop of deep nourishment your family provides, seeing yet avoiding bitter waters, choosing and strengthening that which is sweet in your inheritance.”

A mother’s blessing for her daughter’s journey into adulthood

A blessing for a son, drawing inspiration from our forefathers

“May your eyes sparkle with the light of Torah and your ears hear the music of its words” — a prayer for our children based on a talmudic passage

“May you live to see your world fulfilled”

Mordecai Kaplan’s daughter describes her bat mitzvah in 1922 in New York.

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