CONTENTS MAZEL TOV!... 4 JCP S PHILOSOPHY... 4 PROJECT BET... 4 CORE COMPONENTS OF PROJECT BET... 5 One-on-one skills preparation (b nai mitzvah tutoring )... 5 Torah study with JCP s rabbi... 5 Relevant and meaningful Jewish learning with peers... 5 A personalized tikkun olam (making the world a better place) experience... 5 Fun and social youth programming... 5 THE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE... 5 One-on-one skills preparation... 5 Torah study with JCP s rabbi... 6 THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE... 6 Relevant and meaningful Jewish learning with peers... 6 Danielle and Zev s sixth grade sample schedules @ Project Bet University... 8 Personalized tikkun olam experience... 9 Middle school youth group... 9 TUITION... 11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS... 12 THREE NOTES ABOUT COMMUNITY... 13 For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 3
MAZEL TOV! Becoming bar or bat mitzvah is the beginning of an adult Jewish journey and we are so excited that you have chosen to mark this milestone with the JCP family! For thousands of years, Jewish tradition has recognized that an important transition happens as a child becomes a young adult. While bar or bat on its own means son or daughter, the phrase bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah means age of responsibility. As children become teenagers, they take on an increased responsibility for their own actions, for their relationship to Jewish tradition, and toward the larger community. JCP S PHILOSOPHY B nai Mitzvah (the plural form of the word) at JCP is the beginning of an adult Jewish journey. Project Bet JCP s B nai Mitzvah Experience is a three-year program beginning in sixth grade that puts tradition and creativity at its center, celebrating the individuality of every child and the value of community. Every child will gain self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment while building an increasing ownership over their young adult identity. This is a beginning, a springboard from which to dive more deeply into what it means to be Jewish over the course of a lifetime. The Project Bet experience is also a communal one in which all children will ask themselves and each other: what does it mean to grow as a Jewish individual, friend, community member, and global citizen? PROJECT BET We call our whole program PROEJCT BET. Not only is bet the first letter of bar or bat mitzvah, but it is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet and the first word of the Torah. B nai mitzvah is at once a culmination of learning, and also a beginning. PROJECT BET UNIVERSITY is our weekly pre-teen and teen gathering on Mondays from 4:30 to 7:30 PM* at JCP throughout the school year. Project Bet University is designed as a natural continuation of JCP s Hebrew School Project and also welcomes students from different Jewish background in sixth grade. We know that children and families often have intense schedules, so we have streamlined b nai mitzvah preparation. At Project Bet University, the time for tutoring with a b nai mitzvah educator, meeting with the rabbi, a tikkun olam experience, preparing for the ceremony, and learning and socializing with JCP friends is already carved into the week, all under one roof! Project Bet also includes JCP YOUTH, a monthly opportunity to explore ideas relevant to Jewish teens through unique social activities, leadership opportunities, and the arts in a variety of venues around the City, and celebrate Shabbat with one another and the larger JCP community. For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 4
CORE COMPONENTS OF PROJECT BET One-on-one skills preparation (b nai mitzvah tutoring) Torah study with JCP s rabbi Relevant and meaningful Jewish learning with peers A personalized tikkun olam (making the world a better place) experience Fun and social youth programming Students will complete most components of our B nai Mitzvah program on Mondays throughout the school year from 4:30 7:30 PM* during Project Bet University, our weekly gathering at JCP. THE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE The preparation for and details of each ceremony are unique, in order to personally support each child along the way and challenge them to grow. Led by JCP s rabbi and musician, each ceremony is personalized to suit your family s Jewish perspective, values, and style. JCP is committed to preparing each of our children to the best of their ability regardless of learning styles or differences. We welcome any conversation about how to best support your child. One-on-one skills preparation One-on-one skills preparation (b nai mitzvah tutoring) sessions will prepare each learner in a personalized environment, suited to their learning preferences and needs. This takes place during Project Bet University Mondays. Students will be matched with a b nai mitzvah educator at the end of their fifth grade year or beginning of their sixth grade year and create a customized learning plan for one-on-one weekly sessions that will occur until the end of seventh grade or the date of their ceremony. B nai mitzvah educators will focus on: Hebrew skills Torah reading Prayer leadership Any individual goals leading up to the celebration. Students will have the opportunity to continue with a b nai mitzvah educator through the end of seventh grade, even after the completion of their ceremonies, mastering and perfecting more skills and contributing even more to the JCP community. For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 5
Torah study with JCP s rabbi Learning with JCP s rabbi is a hallmark of the JCP B nai Mitzvah Experience that we believe empowers each student as a life-long Jewish learner, promotes a closer relationship with an adult Jewish mentor, and further personalizes the experience of preparation and the ceremony itself. In addition to learning in a group with the rabbi in Project Bet University, your child will meet individually with JCP s rabbi twice per month throughout the six months leading up to the day of the ceremony. As the bar or bat mitzvah day approaches, JCP s rabbi and musician will rehearse with your child as well. This study opportunity is designed to empower and work with your child to: Think deeply and personalize the text of their Torah portion Explore Jewish traditions of interpretation, story-telling, and civil debate Strengthen critical thinking, communication skills, and adult identity formation Write a speech to deliver on the day of the ceremony THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE Learning in community has been a central Jewish practice for thousands of years. Community is JCP s middle name! Our increasing awareness of the impact of solitary screen use for teens underscores the importance of face-to-face learning with a diverse group of peers. This kind of Jewish learning strengthens communication, creativity, patience, executive function, and social and emotional intelligence. Relevant and meaningful Jewish learning with peers Project Bet University, which incorporates the components listed above, is designed as a natural continuation of JCP s Hebrew School Project and also welcomes students from different Jewish backgrounds in sixth grade. Every Monday night, sixth and seventh graders choose from three core seminars that rotate on a trimester basis, spend individual time with their b nai mitzvah educator, work with peers on a personalized tikkun olam experience, and socialize with their JCP peers. As individual ceremonies approach, Torah study with JCP s rabbi generally take place during this time as well. sixth grade cohort, meets weekly on Mondays from 4:30 7:30 PM seventh grade cohort, meets weekly on Mondays from 4:30 7:30 PM *eighth grade cohort, meets from 6:30 8:00 PM on select Mondays In sixth grade, the focus of the curriculum is understanding the history and tradition of Jewish text from the Torah through the Talmud and later rabbinic commentaries. In seventh grade, the focus of the curriculum is taking on the responsibility for oneself and one s community through reflecting on the past 100 years of Jewish history including the Holocaust, the evolution of the State of Israel, and Jewish communities around the world today. For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 6
In eighth grade, the focus of the curriculum is issues relevant and challenging to teens transitioning into the high school years through Jewish ideas, stories and ethics such as competition, academic stress, pleasure, and body image. For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 7
Danielle and Zev s sixth grade sample schedules @ Project Bet University Every Monday night, sixth and seventh graders have the opportunity to engage in all required preparation for their b nai mitzvah. They will choose from three core seminars that rotate on a trimester basis, spend individual time with their b nai mitzvah educator, and work with peers on a personalized tikkun olam experience. They will study with JCP s rabbi and enjoy some free time for homework and dinner in a fun and informal atmosphere all in one night! Courses below are examples of electives that may be offered at Project Bet University: TIME Homework Help & Snack One-on-one Skills Prep Repairing the World 101 History of Prayer and Rock & Roll Torah Study with JCP s Rabbi 4:30 to 5:00 Danielle Zev 5:00 to 5:30 Zev Danielle 5:30 to 6:00 Danielle Zev 6:00 to 6:30 DINNER 6:30 to 7:00 Zev Danielle 7:00 to 7:30 Zev Danielle *For those students with scheduling difficulties during the Monday evening time block, scheduling accommodations may be able to be offered before and after. For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 8
Personalized tikkun olam experience Rather than requiring that a specific act of kindness or tzedakah has taken place before the b nai mitzvah ceremony, each student individually and with their grade cohort will be encouraged to explore a project to do or an organization with which to be involved to make the world a better place. Our hope is for each child to make an ongoing commitment to more kindness, giving, social responsibility, and justice in the world as they move into young adulthood. Exploring these passions and how to make the world a better place will be one core component of Project Bet University, our weekly b nai mitzvah preparatory program. Guided by professional educators, students will collaborate in teams in an incubator program to create their own unique projects to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Middle school youth group In addition to their time together in Project Bet University, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders join together for a monthly youth group program. Participants explore ideas relevant to Jewish teens through unique social activities, leadership opportunities, and the arts in a variety of venues around the City. They also celebrate Shabbat with one another and the larger JCP community at services and meals. Old and new friendships, being a part of a larger Jewish community, and sharing exciting and meaningful Jewish experiences with peers are foundational needs for every Jewish teen. Project Bet tuition includes the JCP YOUTH program. Through youth group outings, JCP teens will have the opportunity to make friends, gather together, discuss, learn, explore, and have fun! Some examples of past youth group activities have included: Escape the Room Sushi in the Sukkah Museum visits Chopped Shabbat Visiting elderly residents of the Lower East Side The Annual Hanukkah doughnut crawl Since 2016, we have also hosted a Middle School Family Shabbat Weekend Getaway at a summer camp in May or June and a home-hosted family Shabbat dinner. Participation in this program for each middle school student is also included in Project Bet tuition. For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 9
For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 10
TUITION This is the three-year tuition schedule for Project Bet. Fees include sixth, seventh, and eighth Project Bet University sessions, youth group, individual b nai mitzvah preparation, and b nai mitzvah ceremonies with JCP s rabbi and musician in Lower Manhattan: B nai Mitzvah Fee Deposit (when reserving a date): $2,500* Sixth grade tuition: $4,500 Seventh grade tuition: $4,500 B nai Mitzvah Fee Balance (six months before ceremony): $2,500 Eighth grade tuition $1,000 *refundable until two years before the date of the ceremony JCP strives to address barriers from participation. Please engage us in conversation about any financial support from which your family could benefit. FOR JEWISH DAY SCHOOL STUDENTS We are so excited that your child has daily exposure to Jewish learning with their peers. We anticipate that the components of Project Bet that will be the most relevant to your child s b nai mitzvah preparation will be: One-on-one skills preparation Torah study with JCP s Rabbi A personalized tikkun olam experience Fun social youth programming We are happy to speak with you and your child about joining the other programmatic aspects of Project Bet University. Here is a tuition and payment schedule for Jewish Day school students that reflects these components only: B nai Mitzvah Fee Deposit (when reserving a date): $2,500* Sixth grade tuition: $2,250 Seventh grade tuition: $2,250 B nai Mitzvah Fee Balance (six months before ceremony): $2,500 Eighth grade tuition $1,000 *refundable until two years before the date of the ceremony JCP strives to address barriers from participation. Please engage us in conversation about any financial support from which your family could benefit. For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 11
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHEN AND HOW DO I CHOOSE MY CHILD S CEREMONY DATE? Most of JCP s b nai mitzvah ceremonies take place shortly after a child s thirteenth birthday. Adjustments can be made to accommodate different family needs, subject to JCP s calendar and a realistic preparation schedule for each learner. B nai mitzvah dates at JCP are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis subject to availability. We recommend that the date of your ceremony be scheduled at least two years in advance. Since some schools or summer camps maintain a list of b nai mitzvah dates to avoid conflicts within a peer group, some families schedule ceremonies over three years in advance to minimize the chance of conflict. Email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org to begin the process of selecting your date. SO, ARE ALL JCP B NAI MITZVAH ON SATURDAY MORNINGS? Most ceremonies take place on Shabbat mornings, but Shabbat afternoon or other days when the Torah is traditionally read at services may be options as well. This means that your child s ceremony could take place on: Saturday morning Saturday afternoon A different Torah reading day such as a Sunday that coincides with a new Jewish month (Rosh Chodesh) or Monday of a holiday weekend. WHERE COULD MY CHILD S CEREMONY OCCUR? While JCP plans for a building of our own that includes both classroom and sanctuary space, most families have chosen to host b nai mitzvah ceremonies in a variety of venues downtown, often in the same venue in which a party follows. Smaller ceremonies have taken place at JCP and in community members living rooms. Tribeca Synagogue is generally available to rent on Shabbat afternoon, and there is a social hall there as well (note Shabbat restrictions on live music, electronics, and amplification). Other venues that have worked well to date include The Odeon, Battery Gardens, Locanda Verde, Tribeca 360, and City Winery. WHAT IF WE D LIKE TO CELEBRATE IN ISRAEL? With two years advance notice, JCP s rabbi can plan to be in Israel with a family to officiate at a B nai Mitzvah ceremony. If there are multiple ceremonies within the same year, it is likely that there will be a need to coordinate dates so that more than one ceremony may happen in one trip for the rabbi. Additional fees will apply. In the past, when JCP s rabbi has traveled to Israel to officiate at a B nai mitzvah, it has taken place at the egalitarian section of the Western Wall or at a hotel where the family is staying. For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 12
We are also happy to refer you to rabbis in Israel who have officiated at ceremonies for JCP families in the past and will work with those rabbis to ensure the smoothest transition possible toward your family trip and child s ceremony. HOW DOES JCP SUPPORT LOGISTICS FOR THE CEREMONY? JCP s team will arrange for logistics of ritual objects, such as our Torah scroll and prayer books, either at JCP (146 Duane) or at another downtown location of your choice for a ceremony. Our events team will coordinate with your venue and other vendors as appropriate. HOW WILL OUR FAMILY BE INVOLVED? Every child s family is central to the b nai mitzvah experience. From choosing a date for a ceremony that might include a Torah portion particularly meaningful to your child to setting a customized learning path, JCP s rabbi will work with you from the outset to involve the entire family to the degree that you wish to be involved. Some families are eager to read a translation of the child s Torah portion together with a study guide, to generate questions that will be the jumping off point in the child s sessions with the rabbi. Other families are happy for these questions to emerge primarily from the one-on-one sessions with the rabbi. Either way is fine, but we do expect that all families will help keep their child on track with their studies. As the ceremony itself approaches, families often plan to be involved in a number of ways, from participating in the service to Torah reading or other honors that may be given to siblings or to extended family members. Most parents choose to speak to their child publicly during the ceremony itself, and sometimes other special guests will do the same. THREE NOTES ABOUT COMMUNITY If your family is planning a celebration that includes your child s JCP peers, we ask that you invite everyone in your child s class. There is no substitute for participation in the rhythms of communal Jewish life in real Jewish time. Regular attendance at JCP or other Shabbat services is recommended for learning, for comfort, and for increasing communal participation. You are not alone! We are happy to connect you with other JCP families who have been through this process and can share ideas and reflections on their experience. Mazel tov! For more information about Project Bet, email projectbet@jcpdowntown.org. 13