Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah Ceremonies, one-on-one classes with the Rabbi – Learn More!

Alternative B Mitzvah – What’s included
Virtual Classroom

 

The Rabbi teaches students in Northern New Jersey, Westchester County, New York, and Fairfield area of Connecticut.  Destination Bar and Bat Mitzvah is no longer available.  

What is an Alternative B Mitzvah Outside a Temple Setting?
The alternative b mitzvah is an opportunity for parents to honor the custom.  Their daughter or son can become a Bar Mitzvah or a Bat Mitzvah outside the temple setting.  Alternative B Mitzvah is like the Hebrew School program. The only difference is it will be a shorter length of time for study and preparations.  The program is for families who are no longer affiliated with a Temple or lives near one.  Online classes have been around even before zoom became very well known.

Shabbat – Ceremony Day

The Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah ceremony can be hosted at home, in the backyard, or a local establishment / venue. Per Jewish teachings, the one fixed requirement on the day is a Minyan.  A Minyan comprises ten adults over the age of 13 years. Students will learn about being welcomed, connected, and supported by a Jewish community.   

A student learns and is prepared for their special Mitzvah day with a ceremony that follows on the date that is set in advance on the Jewish U.S. combinations calendars. The Alternative B Mitzvah program is about each student learning to read prayers, read/study the Torah with the understanding of history, customs, symbolism, and Jewish teachings.  Along the way, a student relates to their Jewish identity.

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvahs are traditions with options to observe in different ways that teach our children in understanding of his or her Jewish heritage and what it means with the honor. It is a privilege with their birthright and for those that chose Judaism. This will show the child’s understanding of the Torah, and it will be their personal expression.

Each Shabbat the Torah has an assigned weekly Parsha (portion).  It’s read publicly before a congregational minyan and a D’var Torah is given by the leader of the worship service.  We call it a sermon or speech. I teach and guide the student on what makes a good D’var Torah so they give their speech during classes.  The date that is set will correspond to that weekly reading Parsha (portion). Each of my students has discovered their Torah portion written in ancient times connects to their life today.  On their special day, all will hear about it when they read their speech.

• Alternative B Mitzvah Preparation – Included in the Program
• A ceremony that takes place on Shabbat  –  follows a temple and synagogue prayer service.
  • Most popular: We plan a ceremony to take place in Shabbat Morning (Saturday).
  • Havdalah Shabbat evening Mitzvah is available upon request and the Rabbi’s calendar during the wedding season.
• The ceremony is as important as the lessons, please plan well in advance.
• Weekday lessons are Monday – Thursday after state public or private tuition based type school day concludes.
  • Class schedules depend on the Jewish Calendar for the Jewish Holidays. The state public school and tuition private school calendars for school closures and holidays in the United States. In addition, family plans, student schedules, vacations, summer camp will certainly contribute to the class schedule formation too.
• Customized classes as each student will learn and prepare for their Mitzvah day through prayer, history, symbolism, customs, and traditions.  All classes are interactive with student and Rabbi.
• Classes and preparations can be as little as 5 months or up to 12 months. Depends on the student, their Hebrew reading skills, and where they are at in their studies.
  • Example: a student had started their Bar Bat Mitzvah preparations in the temple’s program.  However, the rabbi is leaving the temple for various contractual reasons with the board. The families are now wondering what to do without the Rabbi.  Call to discuss.
• Students Learn Shabbat Prayer Book Hebrew and prayers
  • Prayerbook Hebrew materials are for students to learn the Hebrew alphabet, vowels, fundamentals and leading to read prayers, blessings, the prayer melodies and from the Torah. This program does not include conversational Hebrew.
    • Required – Studying in-between classes. Also known as homework.
      • It prepares and builds up the student with confidence and their leadership skills will shine bright on their special day.
      • Parents or other family members are often called upon to encourage, help, and support this important time in between classes. Each student is still a teenager-to-be. It takes a tribe to prepare a student for their Mitzvah Day!
  •  Hebrew phonetics – call to discuss.
    • Preparations are available and it can meet goals in 6 months or sooner for the Bar Bat Mitzvah Service to take place.
      • Please Note: If there are students with special education needs, they are to be disclosed.  Asking about them is imperative since there are limited accommodations.
• Torah Portions (also known as a weekly reading).
  • It corresponds to the Shabbat (Saturday) date for all weekly readings scheduled on the Jewish calendar.
  • A D’var Torah ( the speech) is part of the Torah Portion.
    • Rabbi will guide the student and the parents on the elements to include in writing the speech.
    • Per custom, we read the Torah Monday, Thursday, Shabbat, and on certain holidays.
• Aliyah Honors per Torah Reading custom.
• Start the conversation when a student is 11-1/2 years old to begin the process leading to their 13th birthday.

The Rabbi teaches students for ceremonies to take place in Northern New Jersey, Westchester County, Fairfield area of Connecticut.
Call to discuss if other New York locales can take place.

Important Details –  that makes online classes run smoothly, and the preparation for each student to become a Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah.

• Google Products are in place for ceremony preparation materials.
  • The United States – state public school and the private tuition based schools uses Google classroom.
  • However, school and employer emails may have restrictions. Rabbi will discuss what parents need to set-up regarding email.
  • The teenagers that have mobile phones likes the Google Product Apps for studying.
• Google Meet – is a Google workspace product and used for classes.
  • Skype for video and audio connection as a back-up.
  • Zoom, Microsoft Meets and any other programs are not available.
  • Internet connectivity is the responsibility of the clients (parents, grandparents, family members) for this online Bar Bat Mitzvah Program to take place and succeed.
    • Online classes need the strongest / solid signal from the router for classes to flow smoothly.
      • Tip: Wi-Fi is not always dependable.
      • IT Specialist support type services are not part of Rabbi Services.
      • Please contact an IT specialist and inquire.

Read More about Rabbi Andrea Frank!  Featured in the online magazine Judaica in the Spotlight.

 

Look what the Virtual Classroom offered over the years.

Rabbi Andrea Frank’s continues to teach with the remote class format or also known as the online virtual classroom.  Each class lesson is live, not recorded.  They can see, hear, interact with the Rabbi, the lessons, and have a wonderful experience all around.

What was once new and exciting is now part of our daily lives. Remote learning. This remote class virtual classroom has offered the Rabbi to teach beyond her local city, county, and state boundaries.

The Rabbi teaches students for ceremonies to take place in Northern New Jersey, Westchester County, Fairfield area of Connecticut. Call to discuss if other New York locales can take place.

Pre-Pandemic – There have been students in Florida, California, Australia, Dominica Island, France, Germany, and Monaco. This was the Destination Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah!

 

 

 

 

 

(Note: COVID-19 and the vaccines are in place, however, the numbers are rising once again. Due this news, traveling and Destination Bar and Bat Mitzvah will be determined based on the health and safety for all.