B Mitzvah with Romemu
B Mitzvah at Romemu are called to the Torah not only as students of Judaism, but as teachers. By leading the congregation in song, by chanting and interpreting texts, and by engaging in tikkun olam, the B Mitzvah becomes a teacher, a leader, and an “adult” member of the Romemu community and the larger Jewish community.
It goes without saying that this transformation does not happen overnight. The B Mitzvah experience is a journey, which takes hard work and dedication. This handbook is meant to help guide you through this process. We want this experience to be a meaningful and joyous spiritual journey for your family. Mazal Tov!
B Mitzvahs
A B Mitzvah at Romemu includes the student leading a significant part of the worship service, chanting Torah, the blessings over the Torah reading and giving a d’var Torah, a speech about the meaning of the Torah portion. We facilitate this process of study over a minimum of two years of learning in our Seekers Holistic Hebrew school.
Adult B Mitzvah
” I can’t believe I did it. I really felt like God was moving through me. I actually understood what they are talking about when they talk about the words in the Torah being alive. I never understood that– I always thought– what are they talking about?!. I felt the energy of the white spaces entering me.”
Adult B Mitzvah are a beautiful opportunity for anyone who either didn’t have a B Mitzvah, or wasn’t satisfied with their B Mitzvah experience, to re-examine and re-affirm their relationship with Judaism, and celebrate the Jew they have grown into. Participants are required to take “Intro to Judaism” at The Well at Romemu, or prove familiarity with Hebrew and Judaism from an equivalent form of study.
Adult B Mitzvah lessons begin every February at the Well and take 18 months to complete. Participants embark on a set curriculum of study which includes 6 months of Parsha study, followed by 6 months of research for your own Sermon to be shared at a Shabbat Morning Service in the Spring, along with the study of trope to read from the Torah.
To learn more about Adult B Mitzvahs at Romemu, contact Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses at dianne@romemu.org.
“The whole thing was just awesome. I decided to do this a number of years ago for myself. What I didn’t realize is what it would mean to my family. All my kids and grandkids were on [zoom]. It was such a modeling of what it means to lean into discomfort, and leaning into new things. They threw me a party Saturday night … and they’re planting a tree in my honor. It was a really big deal for them. It was really powerful. “