B'Mitzvah

Our youth preparation program combines formal learning with personal development, ensuring each student feels confident standing on the bima:

• Equal Participation: All young people, regardless of gender, lead services, read directly from the Torah scroll, chant from the Haftarah, and offer prayers.
• Customized Learning: Hebrew reading, trope (cantillation), and prayer leadership are tailored to each student's abilities, learning style, and neurodiversity needs.
• The D'var Torah (Sermon): Students work closely with our rabbinic team to explore their Torah portion, asking critical questions and connecting ancient texts to modern ethics.
• The Mitzvah Project (Tikkun Olam): In our community we encorage every candidate to undertake a social action project—supporting a local charity, environmental initiative, or community cause.

We know that a B'Mitzvah is a milestone for the entire family. We proudly support and celebrate modern, diverse families:

• Warm Inclusion: Non-Jewish parents, step-parents, grandparents, and family members are warmly included on the bima to share blessings and celebrate their child's achievement.
• Accessible Services: We accommodate diverse physical, emotional, and sensory requirements so that every student and guest experiences a comfortable, joyous day.

A B'Mitzvah is an exciting time; a moment of growth and development followed by communal celebration. Mazel Tov!

Our BM Mechinah Course aims to nurture and guide a soon-to-be teenager's natural curiosity through what can be both an exciting yet vulnerable period in their live. For some general background on B'Mitzvah please check out this short article: B'Mitzvah in 1,000 Words

Our course provides multiple opportunities for you and your child to make connections with other families, our rabbis and B'Mitzvah Team. During their time with us your child will bond with their B'Mitzvah peers whilst exploring Jewish wisdom on navigating our complex world. As part of this process they will engage with Jewish ways of praying and reading Torah.

How Our BMM Programme Works:

Children typically begin their B’Mitzvah preparations with us around 4 terms (approx 15 months) before their celebration date. The four Terms of our BM Mechinah Programme correspond to ‘four steps’, each of which is made up of approx. ten 1 hour sessions. These sessions take place after school on Fridays and on Shabbat mornings. Children (and their families) progress in cohorts of around 10-15 as they move through the four steps of our programme. In addition to these, children will also receive 1-2-1 tuition, during terms 2 & 3, for their Torah portion.

BMM1 (1st Step) - Breakfast Club: Becoming Adult (Sat, 9:15am) - A space for parents and their B’Mitzvah child to come together and explore what it means to be an adult. In these sessions we will enjoy breakfast whilst reflecting on the challenges of navigating through a complex world. Jewish wisdom will be our guide as we explore what it means to ‘grow-up’ and gain rights and responsibilities. Following the session families are strongly encouraged to join the community for Shabbat Shacharit (the morning service).

BMM2 (2nd Step) - Hebrew Reading & the Tune(s) of Torah (Fri, 5:15 - 7.20pm)- Children that have little or no Hebrew knowledge will have the opportunity to learn to read basic Hebrew. This is an essential part of being able to read from Torah. For those that can already read Hebrew, they will be introduced to Torah Cantillation - the unique melody that can be used when publicly reading from Torah. There is also an introduction to some of the prayers that make up the morning and afternoon service together with the prayers that need to be recited before and after the Torah readings. In the second part of the afternoon your child, together with their cohort, join the community for the Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6:30pm and we strongly encourage you and your family to join them!

BMM3 (3rd Step) - Prayer Skills Workshop: The Tune(s) of Torah - (Fri, 5:15 - 7.20pm) - In these sessions B’Mitzvah children will explore the meaning behind some of our most central prayers including Shema and Amidah - where do these come from and why do they matter! This space will help them learn these prayers and others, many of which they will help co-lead on the Shabbat of their B’Mitzvah. In the second part of the afternoon your child, together with their cohort, join the community for the Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6:30pm and we strongly encourage you and your family join them!

BMM4 (4th Step) - Teens Take the Lead: Torah Reading & T’filah Support Group -(Sat, 9:15am - 12:15pm) - In these sessions B’Mitzvah children will explore the meaning behind some of our most central prayers including Shema and Amidah - where do these come from and why do they matter! This space will help them learn these prayers and others, many of which they will help co-lead on the Shabbat of their B’Mitzvah. In the second part of the morning your child, together with their cohort, join the community for the Shabbat Shacharit Service at 10:30am and we strongly encourage you and your family to join them!

What is included in Our Programme:

• Approx. 40 in-person group sessions
• Approx. 20, half-hour, 1-2-1 sessions
• Personal and Ongoing Support from the B'Mitzvah Mechinah Team
• Rabbinic support including: 1-2-1 meetings and a B'Mitzvah run-through with one of our Rabbis
• Contribution towards the administrative and resource costs of the programme
• Cost of sponsoring a basic kiddush at the Shul on the Shabbat your child marks their B'Mitzvah
• Attendance to our Summer BM Drop-In Sessions
• Hardback Edition of our Siddur (Forms of Prayer)