Choosing a Bnai Mitzva Tutor Once you have scheduled a date for your child's bnai mitzva, at least one year in advance, you will need to choose a tutor to work with your child on chanting the appropriate Torah portion, and learning to understand, explain and lead prayers during the bnai mitzva service. The between the tutor and your child will influence your child's experience of the entire bnai mitzva preparation process, so it's important that you choose a tutor who is a good fit. You may want to meet with more than one tutor to check out how your student gets along with them, discuss their teaching approach, fees, scheduling, etc. The specific material your child will need to study with the tutor will be determined in discussion with the Rabbi. The following pages offer information supplied by several tutors who have been approved by the rabbi to work with Nevei Kodesh bnai mitzva students. They have a good understanding of Renewal, are familiar with the various tunes used at Nevei Kodesh services, are able to teach trope (chanting) and have a good working with us. If you would like some guidance about which tutor(s) might be a good fit for your child, please contact the school director or the rabbi for assistance.
Ruth Seagull Phone number 303 554 8180 Type phone Landline ruseagull@gmail.com experience do you have with bnai mitzva is your are your is your is your I have been teaching both children and adults bnei mitzvah for 22 years I've been part of JR for 18 years, studied with Reb Zalman, and other Renewal rabbis and have been an active member in our community all that time. I love working with very bright kids but also have really enjoyed special needs and learning disabled students. Excellent in both. One year prior to bnai mitzva, once a week for an hour yes, and my fee is very low My first step with a student is to find out how they feel about having a bnai mitzvah and to alleviate their anxiety about the process. I'm very honest and specific about what is involved, so they know what to expect. We begin with the hardest part so they'll have the most time to practice that, and the rest will be easier. I do emphasize learning the meaning of the words from the very beginning and expect commit to practicing at least 20 minutes per day every day between lessons. Part of most lessons is spent on reading a book together, 5776 Approved Tutors 2
Yoni Weiner Phone number 9178290220 Type phone Cell Phone yweiner@gmail.com experience do you have with bnai mitzva is your Not much in that area specifically, though I am able to Chant from the torah with the appropriate "tunes" and feel strongly about helping young adults build a strong bnai mitzvah process which is both meaningful and significant for them. I grew up orthodox and have since moved into studying and practicing judaism in a way that conforms to many of the principles of renewal (though still primarily affiliated with Boulder's orthodox synagogue). This includes approaching Judaism in a modern way with heart, meaning, and soul. I believe strongly that renewal is an fundamental part of the greater jewish eco-system and must be supported and nourished accordingly. are your is your is your Any student so long as they are motivated to learn. I believe in the principle in "teach a student according to his/her way". Skill set is secondary to creating a bnei mitzva preparation process which motivates each student to want to continue their involvement in the neve kodesh community. I can read hebrew fluently- in terms of translating texts i would say my proficiency is 60 percent. I speak conversational hebrew rather fluently as well. This depends on how the student wants to experience his/her bnai mitzvah. There are some traditional roles such as reading for the torah/ giving a speech, and there are other goals as well as tikkun olam projects. Additionally it depends on the students Hebrew background and skill set.ideally 6 months to one year. (1-2 hours per week plus 1-3 hours of self study per week Yes Finding balance is imperative in the learning process and my ultimate goal is to help instill balance into the lives of Bnai Mitzvah. 5776 Approved Tutors 3
Gabriella (Janine) Starr Phone number 303/506-2498 Type phone janstarr1@gmail.com I have over twenty years of experience as a B nai Mitzvah coach. experience do I have worked with students of every learning style, learning you have with challenge, personality, level of motivation, and every bnai mitzva congregation in Boulder, as well as some custom free-lance ceremonies for non-affiliated families. is your I went to Reb Elliot Ginsburg s Downstairs Minyan in Philadelphia in the late 70 s. My daughter and I co-created her Renewal Bat Mitzvah service in Boulder. We pulled together our own little band for the rockin psalms section, including horns. In the 90 s and 2000 s I administered and participated in Reb Zalman s private Cantor s Class in his home. Other students included Reb Hanna Laner, and Cantors Jan Kirshner and Michelle Wolf. I have knowledge and understanding of the Hebrew prayer book and how Renewal services riff off from it. I have led many Services in town, Renewal and otherwise. I have read and love many of Reb Zalman s books. I incorporate concepts from Davenning, Sparks of Light and with Feeling into my daily life and prayer. are your My sense of humor is always available, especially when the chips are down. I can work yone who feels an authentic connection to something, whether it is a person, thing or activity. It doesn t have to be something. I have 71 credits in School Psychology, and like different learners and experiencers. is your is your I lived in Israel for a year and have been leading Hebrew services, chanting Hebrew scripture, and studying Torah in Hebrew for twenty years. It s great to have at least two full academic semesters. More is better. Minimum time depends on the student. I value my work and use it to eat. I am open in the right circumstances. 5776 Approved Tutors 4
I love kids, Judaism, music and ritual. I can connect whatever you love to your event. We are so privileged to have a thousand year old Rite of Passage built into our spiritual lineage. Where else in the 21st century does a kid get to lead adults in spiritual practice? I know how to milk a goat and I love to hike 5776 Approved Tutors 5
Rabbi Hanna Laner Phone number 303/258-1438 Type phone Home RabbiHannah@gmail.com Experienced in tutoring, teaching, and inspiring B nei Mitzvah experience do students, Rabbi Hannah infuses the process with a passionate you have with love of Torah and tradition. Winner of many awards for bnai mitzva innovation, creativity, and excellence in education, is your are your is your is your served enthusiastically as a spiritual leader, cantorial soloist, and professional educator in our community for over twenty-five years Winner of many awards for innovation, creativity, and excellence in education, Rabbi Hannah ignites a spark in children and adults alike. She officiates life-cycle rituals, including weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and Baby Namings (Brit Milah for boys and Simchat Bat for girls). Rabbi Hannah works closely with individuals, couples, and families to co-create personal, meaningful ceremonies that weave tradition with their own unique self-expression. She welcomes Jews of all backgrounds and is willing to meet with interfaith couples to explore if a wedding is authentic for them. 5776 Approved Tutors 6
Aviva Bannerman Phone number 201-407-7634 Type phone Cell Phone avivabannerman@gmail.com experience do you have with bnai mitzva is your are your is your I tutored b'nai mitzvah students for four years when I was in college in Vermont. When I settled in Boulder last year, I began taking students again, and I have thus far tutored various b'nai mitzvah students at Bonai Shalom. I grew up in the conservative movement and am most familiar with their traditions, but I have since learned a lot about Reb Zalman and the foundations of Renewal. I love the idea of renewing spirituality into the traditions, and I look forward to deepening my knowledge of Renewal Judaism. I love to work with all types of students! The tutoring is a special one because the one-on-one attention enables the tutor to attune to each child's individual needs. Therefore, I welcome an array of different students and look forward to developing personalized lesson plans with which each student can thrive. I am fluent in reading and writing Hebrew, but I cannot always understand an unfamiliar text without the help of a translation. I am intermediate in comprehension of modern Hebrew. is your I generally tutor students for 9-10 months, meeting once a week for hour-long sessions. No I love tutoring b'nai mitzvah lessons! While the actual bar/batmitzvah is the culmination of the celebration, I see the growth of each of my students during the months that we work together, as they develop their study skills and sense of responsibility. In each student, I witness a developing self-confidence as they realize they can achieve something they once felt was unattainable. 5776 Approved Tutors 7