Bar/Bat Mitzvah program

Ahavat Yisrael Hebrew School offers an innovative program for boys approaching the age of Bar Mitzvah. It is a serious and mature curriculum specifically geared towards our students, who are nearing the end of their Hebrew School education. We will be providing many thought-provoking and stimulating topics for the students to ponder. Our aim is to instill in our students a life-long Jewish identity, a bond to the Jewish homeland, and a sense of Jewish pride.

Our program will include the opportunity for our students to discuss and debate contemporary Jewish issues such as Israeli politics, anti-Semitism, the Holocaust and other moral dilemmas and current event issues.

There will be detailed hands-on instruction on putting on Tefillin along with the halachah (laws) pertaining to Tefillin. The basic Torah reading notes trup will also be introduced. As well, the brachot recited before and after receiving an Aliyah are taught.

In order to encourage our students to develop a sense of community involvement, volunteer work will take place during Hebrew School hours. As well, our students will organize a tzedakkah (charity) projects as well as our Annual Kosher Food Drive.

The program culminates with a Bar Mitzvah Ceremony and an elegant celebration that takes place in a Synagogue in Thornhill, on a Sunday Rosh Chodesh in May or June. Morning prayers will take place in our own private minyan all the aliyot and other honours will be given to the boys and their families.

Following prayers, the simcha continues with a fully catered brunch, At the ceremony, each Bar Mitzvah graduate will present an original D’var Torah (speech) on a Jewish topic that is meaningful to him. Each graduate will receive a Bar Mitzvah diploma as well as a graduation gift.

This program was designed to alleviate the financial burden that families of Bar Mitzvah-aged boys often face. The group Bar Mitzvah has been one of our most successful programs. You may chose to participate in the Hebrew School Bar Mitzvah program, but not in the ceremony.