{"id":29880,"date":"2016-05-06T15:03:38","date_gmt":"2016-05-06T21:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=29880"},"modified":"2016-05-06T15:09:15","modified_gmt":"2016-05-06T21:09:15","slug":"op-ed-lets-reconsider-the-barbat-mitzvah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/op-ed-lets-reconsider-the-barbat-mitzvah\/","title":{"rendered":"OP-ED: Let\u2019s Reconsider the Bar\/Bat Mitzvah"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JOEL E. HOFFMAN<\/p>\n

I have always wondered why Bar\/Bat Mitzvah lessons consists of learning trope, how to chant a section of the Torah and Haftarah, and how to lead parts of the service, especially since we know that 99% will never again read from the Torah or Haftarah nor lead the service. I fail to see the long-term positive benefits from such an educational experience.<\/p>\n

It is ironic that three thousand years ago the words of the Prophets inspired Jews to return to God, but now the process of learning to chant these same words is a catalyst for our 13-year-olds to drop out of Jewish life. Less than 20% of Jewish high school students have some level of involvement in a Jewish youth group.<\/p>\n

Most synagogues require doing a mitzvah project that is meaningful to him\/her which usually includes volunteering or raising money for a cause. This also gives the Bar\/Bat Mitzvah something to talk about in their speech so s\/he does not have to read the English translation of their Torah portion to know what it is about.<\/p>\n

The results of our Jewish educational system, of which the Bar\/Bat Mitzvah performance is seen as the climax, are horrible. Among non-Orthodox Jews only 28% marry another Jew, under 20% of Jewish women light Shabbat candles, and synagogue attendance by adult members on a random Shabbat is in the five to ten percent rage.<\/p>\n

Before sharing my ideas for improving this situation, it is necessary to first relay some background about Bar\/Bar Mitzvah.<\/p>\n

Bar\/Bar Mitzvah is a Noun:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The word Bar\/Bar Mitzvah is a noun, not a verb. \u00a0There is no such thing as getting Bar\/Bat Mitzvahed. \u00a0A rabbi does not Bar\/Bat Mitzvah someone. \u00a0When a girl turns 12 years old and a boy turns 13 years old (on the Jewish calendar) s\/he automatically become a Bat or a Bar Mitzvah, which means they become obligated to follow the Mitzvot.<\/em> \u00a0It is not necessary to read from the Torah nor have a party with a DJ to become a Bar\/Bat Mitzvah. This is akin to turning 18 years old in the United States \u2013 one becomes a legal adult.<\/p>\n

The History of the Bar\/Bat Mitzvah:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first reference to Bar Mitzvah is Pirkei Avot<\/em> (5:21) which states that 13 is the age for fulfilling the Mitzvot.<\/em> \u00a0In the 4th<\/sup> century it became the custom to call a recent Bar Mitzvah for an Aliyah<\/em> to the Torah to mark this occasion. The 14th<\/sup> century Jewish legal code, Tur <\/em>(Orech Chayim<\/em> 225:2), states that is it a Mitzvah<\/em> to have a festive meal on the day one\u2019s son becomes a Bar Mitzvah. \u00a0In the 16th<\/sup> century Bar Mitzvah boys began giving a d\u2019var <\/em>Torah, and in the 17th<\/sup> century Bar Mitzvah boys began leading part of the prayer service. \u00a0(My thanks to Robyn Faintich for the information in this paragraph.)<\/p>\n

Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan invented the Bat Mitzvah in 1922 when he called up his 12-year old daughter, Judith, for an Aliyah<\/em> and she recited the blessings and read from the Torah. \u00a0It took a few decades for the Bat Mitzvah to catch on, and later the non-Orthodox movements changed the age of Bat Mitzvah from 12- to 13-years-old.<\/p>\n

My Proposal:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Revamp the Hebrew school curriculum so there is less emphasis on prayer and more emphasis on Mitzvot<\/em>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Hebrew school curriculum, even with the addition of Tikkun Olam<\/em> and Eco-Judaism over the past 30 years, still mostly focuses on \u201csynagogue Judaism.\u201d<\/p>\n

    What I propose is teaching, encouraging and supporting Hebrew school students in doing the daily Mitzvot<\/em> of saying Modeh Ani,<\/em> Shema, <\/em>and Ve\u2019Ahavtah,<\/em> and giving Tzedakah<\/em> \u2013 all by the time one becomes a Bar\/Mitzvah. <\/em>\u00a0Additionally, girls lighting Shabbat candles prior to every Shabbat, and boys making Kiddush<\/em> every Friday night.<\/p>\n

    For this to occur we need to spiral the teaching of these Mitzvot<\/em> in every grade, provide the physical materials, encourage their performance through Mitzvah Charts, and publically recognize the students who do these Mitzvot<\/em>. \u00a0Our aim should be for the majority of our students to regularly do these selected Mitzvot<\/em> throughout their lives.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eliminate the Bar\/Bat Mitzvah performance.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The Bar\/Bat Mitzvah had a modest beginning but has grown into the preparation for a performance which has become counter-productive for Jewish continuity.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Extend Hebrew school through the 8th<\/sup> grade.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        It makes sense to extend Hebrew school to the end of 8th<\/sup> grade to be in-sync with middle school graduation, especially if the Bar\/Bat Mitzvah performance is eliminated.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Initiate a Siyum<\/em> celebration that coincides with one\u2019s 16th<\/sup> birthday<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          A Siyum <\/em>is a celebration after an individual or group completes learning a classical Jewish text and it has a long history in Judaism.<\/p>\n

          The primary activity leading up to the Siyum <\/em>is learning with the Rabbi in a small group every week for two years. \u00a0In doing so, one will study Judaism on a more mature and sophisticated level.<\/p>\n

          The Siyum <\/em>would consist of giving a d\u2019var <\/em>Torah at synagogue services. \u00a0Whereas a Bar\/Bat Mitzvah is all about the performance, a Siyum <\/em>is about celebrating the actual learning that took place.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

          Other requirements for the Siyum <\/em>could include: taking on doing one new Mitzvah<\/em> (I recommend building a Sukkah), a Mitzvah Project, and the family having several Shabbat dinners at the rabbi\u2019s house.<\/p>\n

          The Five Things This Plan Accomplishes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          The fruits of this plan include: extending the Jewish education for many of our young teens for another three years, replacing dreaded Bar Mitzvah tutoring with more meaningful and intellectually higher-level Torah learning, developing a relationship with the Rabbi, fostering the doing of selected Mitzvot <\/em>as part of one\u2019s daily\/weekly regimen, and bringing more Judaism into many people\u2019s home.<\/p>\n

          Implementing such a plan will require leaders who do not pander to the masses, but focus on the spiritual survival of the Jewish people.<\/p>\n

          Joel E. Hoffman is an ordained rabbi, but works as a special education teacher at a public high school in Massachusetts. A former resident of New Orleans, he also teaches 7th grade Hebrew school and writes on Jewish themes. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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