7th Grade

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7th Grade
Seventh Grade students polish their Hebrew reading and prayer skills while seeking to make tefillah (prayer) meaningful and connect it to their lives. This year they complete an in-depth study of the Holocaust and discuss the effects of bigotry and injustice. As they begin the process of becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, they concentrate on their own evolving relationship with God, the range of Jewish theology, and question and probe their own beliefs as young Jewish adults. Students can also participate in our 6th /7th Grade Retreat with students from other area synagogues.

Preparing for B'nai Mitzvah

Training for the skills needed to understand our liturgy and lead prayers as a Bar or Bat Mitzvah begins early, and is constantly reinforced throughout our curriculum. Our "Mitzvah Ed" class consists of thirteen mitzvot (commandments) for the student to undertake, of which seven are required and six others are chosen by the student from a list, which includes mitzvot from the categories of Torah (study), Avodah (worship and service) and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness). Under this program, students learn about Shabbat rituals, participate in services, learn about the many Torah portions (parshiot), learn to sign their Hebrew names, create an Israel brochure, and participate in the collection of food and money to benefit the needy in our community.

Cantor Wally personally prepares every Bar and Bat Mitzvah candidate so that he or she is as comfortable as possible with the prayers and trope (melodies). Rabbi Panken personally reviews every student's D'var Torah(Bar or Bat Mitzvah sermon). And, Rabbi Panken works with every Bar and Bat Mitzvah student to ensure that the student is ready to lead our congregation in prayer.

Bnai Mitzvah, Confirmation... & Beyond