A Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a personal declaration,
in a public way, joining the Jewish community as a full participating
member. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is less of a ceremony and more a
process; a process that leads to becoming and acting as a Jewish
adult. Rabbi Shai will lead the student through two phases. The
first is a course of study. This will last on average about nine
months, but can be sped or slowed to meet the needs of the student
and family. The second phase is the ceremony itself. Rabbi Shai
will come to your city and lead a service, for family and friends,
in which the Bar/Bat Mitzvah will help lead a Jewish service
and read from a torah scroll.
Rabbi Shai will create a set of experiences for Jewish children
and families which will nourish them spiritually, intellectually
and emotionally and which will inspire them, individually and
collectively, to find their spirituality by devoting themselves
to Torah (study), avodah (worship) and gemilut hasadim (deeds
of loving kindness).
He strives to create educational experiences that mirror the
joy, spiritual vitality, and the authentic quest for tikkun olam
(repairing the world) and tikkun ha middot (personal spiritual
growth).
Study should be a personal and spiritual engagement that connects
the mind and the heart - it should move each of us to more fully
encounter ourselves, each other and God.
Study should strengthen us as a community and inspire each
of us individually and collectively to increase our level
of observance
and do our part to repair the world.
Study should reflect our commitment to Israel and the Jewish
people.
A course of study designed specifically for each student that
will explore a number of aspects of Judaism, based on the starting
knowledge of that student. This Bar\Bat Mitzvah Program will
adjust as it proceeds to meet the needs and interests of the
student. The study will include a number of activities. One will
be to meet with the rabbi to review and discuss a variety of
Jewish topics. If the student is not local to the Rabbi this
will be done through SKYPE on the internet. In general two to
three topics will be covered in each session, along with a Jewish
service component. Sessions will generally be twice per month
but if there and will be scheduled to best meet the needs of
the family and the student.
Rabbi Shai also offers Hebrew, Judaic and Kabbalah courses for
children and or adults online or in-person.
