Kabbalat Torah (literally receiving, accepting the Torah) is a ceremony offered by Progressive Communities for fifteen or sixteen year old post Bar/Bat Mitzvah boys and girls. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘rite of Confirmation’.
Why?
It is felt that at thirteen years of age it is very young for a youngster to take on the mantle of a Jewish adult and it is too soon to end their Jewish education. At fifteen or sixteen they are able to have a more mature understanding of Jewish values and affirm their commitment to Judaism as a consequence of a personal and informed decision.
What?
Studies will have continued post Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Cheder and these will have encouraged students to think about issues in their lives and society as a whole, examining both aspects of Jewish tradition and Progressive Jewish values.
Apart from the formal learning, students will have had an active participation in the religious and cultural life of the community. They may have also participated in events with students from other communities and been on trips to Jewish places of interest in Israel, the UK and Europe, for example Lincoln, Berlin, Amsterdam and Warsaw.
As a result of this, many students will form lasting friendships.
The Ceremony
The ceremony is akin to a ‘Graduation’ from Cheder and is usually a joint celebration of the whole class in Synagogue. The students will take the entire Shabbat morning service and will be given a lot of freedom to prepare for the event. Usually they will chose a theme that relates to the Torah portion (my son Aaron’s class theme was ‘Reconciliation’ – see below). The students will read prayers and appropriate poems and share their own thoughts. They will read the Torah Parasha between them.
After The Ceremony
There will often be presentation of certificates to all the participants.
The Kabbalat Torah is a much more low key celebration than a Bar/Bat Mitzvah so there are not the huge parties!
However the students’ parents will usually organise a special Kiddish and lunch afterwards.
