Rabbi Howard Morrison

This year, our new Director of Family Engagement, Avivit Yoffe, envisioned a new kind of Bar/Bat Mitzvah enrichment program. In years past, we would hold a monthly session on a weeknight in shul with periodic field trips on Sundays. Instead, upcoming Bnai Mitzvah were invited to a concentrated program held weekly on eight consecutive Tuesday evenings. Just a couple of days ago, a graduation ceremony was held to honor the seven participants and their families.

Over the last eight weeks, some of the topics included our Shinshinim, Sharon and Omri, taking the students on a virtual tour of Israel, using multi-media technology. On one evening, I provided a tour and explanation of many of the items found in our main sanctuary, including a close-up view of a Torah scroll. In addition, the participants visited the Toronto Holocaust Museum, prepared non-perishable food for the hungry, and more.

This past Tuesday night, each of the seven students shared brief remarks on how the two-month intensive series made a lasting impression on their Jewish identities. 

It is noteworthy that over the last two weeks, our shul has hosted a Bar or Bat Mitzvah on a Shabbat morning in the main service and private family services on three consecutive weekday Torah reading days - last Thursday, this past Monday, and this Thursday. Several additional Bnai Mitzvah ceremonies are soon to come between March and the end of June.

At Beth Emeth, we offer a variety of ways to celebrate Bar and Bat Mitzvah. I invite prospective families to contact me to learn more.

Finally, I wish to thank Avivit for supervising and envisioning this year's Bar/Bat Mitzvah enrichment program.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison