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Bnei Mitzvah

Three people smiling and holding a Torah scroll, with colorful clothing and a warm setting.

Bar/bat 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 bar/bat 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 bar/bat mitzvah celebrations.

Latest Rituals

“I am the one / whose prayers were left unanswered…”

Close-up of diverse hands gently holding each other, symbolizing unity and support, with blurred background.

A meditation for those who do not read Hebrew but wish to learn Torah

the words of the shema

A poem about the wisdom in female friendship and laughter

Two people smiling and embracing in a warm hug, showing happiness and friendship in a light, blurred background.

Passing down our ancestors’ staff from generation to generation

woman standing in the desert with her face toward the sky
A poem acknowledging we each have divine gifts.
Silhouetted wildflowers against a mountain backdrop during a sunset.

A blessing for parents to recite at a child’s bar or bat mitzvah

mother and teen hug facing the water on the beach

How do we decide to be who we are meant to be?

Person hiking on a rocky trail wearing brown boots with red laces and cream socks.

Humanist Sh’ma

canyon between tall red stones

Learn the traditional blessing before the Torah reading in American Sign Language

woman sings and man signs torah blessings

Learn the blessing after the Torah reading in Hebrew and ASL

woman sings and man signs torah blessings

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

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The Reconstructionist Network