Jewish Childrens Folkshul

B'NAI MITZVAH PROGRAM: FOLKSHUL OFFERS BAR AND BAT MITZVAH IN A MANNER UNIQUE TO SECULAR HUMANISTIC JEWS. WORKING WITH A MENTOR, THE CHILD WILL SPEND SEVERAL MONTHS RESEARCHING AND DEVELOPING A PRESENTATION FOR THEIR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CLASSMATES, AND THE FOLKSHUL COMMUNITY. TOGETHER WITH THE B'NAI MITZVAH COORDINATOR, THE FAMILY PREPARES A CEREMONY WHICH REFLECTS THEIR LOVE FOR, AND TIES TO ONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS THEIR CONNECTION TO THEIR JEWISH PAST AND FUTURE. OUR COMMUNITY IS DIVERSE, AND THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A BAR OR BAT MITZVAH IN OUR COMMUNITY ALLOWS SIGNIFICANT ROOM FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN FEELINGS AND ORIENTATIONS TOWARDS THEIR JEWISHNESS, INTEGRATING HIS/HER PERSONAL INTERESTS WITH HIS/HER JEWISH VALUES AND KNOWLEDGE. TOPICS OF RECENT B'NAI MITZVAH INCLUDE: JEWISH IMMIGRATION; HIAS AND TODAY'S IMMIGRATION; JEWISH FOOD; MYTHOLOGY; ANTI- JEWISH PROPAGANDA IN NAZI GERMANY; KLEZMER MUSIC; AFRICAN AMERICAN AND JEWISH RELATIONS; HISTORY OF THE BAR MITZVAH AND RITES OF PASSAGE IN OTHER CULTURES; THE PLIGHT OF ARGENTINEAN JEWS; THE USE OF WINE IN JEWISH TRADITION; AND ART CREATED BY CONCENTRATION CAMP VICTIMS.