Mazel tov on planning this meaningful simcha! Becoming a B-Mitzvah is a significant milestone in the Jewish cycle of life, marking a young person’s growing connection to Jewish learning, practice, and community.
At Agudas Achim, B-Mitzvah students take an active role in worship, leading all or part of a Shabbat evening or morning service, or—by choice—a Havdalah service (possibly at home) that includes demonstrated Torah learning. Each service is shaped to reflect the student’s abilities and comfort level, with the goal of helping every child feel confident and proud of their accomplishment.
Preparation for the B-Mitzvah begins well before the celebration itself. From 3rd through 6th grade, students build a foundation in Hebrew, prayers, and blessings through our Religious School. Approximately a year before the B-Mitzvah, students enter a focused B-Mitzvah class and begin working more closely with the rabbi, the principal and a tutor, with some individual meetings as the date approaches.
Families work together with the rabbi to plan a service that feels authentic and meaningful. Congregants may choose to use a Reform or Conservative siddur, or to create a customized service that reflects their family’s values and traditions.
Our aim is simple and central: that every child experiences their B-Mitzvah as a moment of joy, growth, and belonging.