[HANASHIR:8828] Re: B'nai Mitzvah celebrations

[Richard Glauber <richglauber...>]

I think it is a fantastic idea to consider
alternatives to the "big reception".  My immediate
thought is to elicit some ideas from the 13 year olds
themselves.  Imagine an assignment like this:

The teacher tells a story about a 13 year old who is
dreading her bat mitzvah.  It's not the actual bat
mitzvah itself, it's the party that comes after it. 
She is excited about leading the congregation in
prayer, she just doesn't want to have the usual bat
mitzvah party that all the other kids had.  

Her parents tried to convince her to do it like
everyone else, but she was determined to have a
celebration that was more reflective of who she was as
a person, and as a coming-of-age Jewish woman.  

With that as a set up, I would ask the students to
write an idea for the kind of "simcha" that should
take place.  What kind of a celebration would really
feel right?.....   Who should be there? what should
happen at the gathering?

That's my "take".... to involve 13 year olds in the
conceiving of alternatives.  

Rich Glauber





--- Jan Morrison <janmorrison (at) home(dot)com> wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> Our congregation is putting together a list of
> alternative "celebrations"
> for b'nai mitzvot families who do not want to have
> big receptions.
> 
> I'd welcome any of your possible suggestions.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jan Morrison
> janmorrison (at) home(dot)com
> 
> ------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> -----------------------+
>