10th Grade Chizuk/Confirmation Program
While Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies mark a young person’s entry into Jewish adulthood, 10th Grade Chizuk provides high school-aged teens with the opportunity to confirm their place in the Jewish community, and to commit themselves to Jewish learning and Jewish life. Confirmation around age sixteen first became a Jewish tradition in the Reform Movement in the 1800s, when the movement questioned a child’s ability to commit to a tradition at the young age of thirteen. Now, many Jewish communities mark intention with B’nai Mitzvah and commitment with this tradition, around the time of Shavu’ot -- the holiday which marks our receiving and assenting to the Torah as a people at Sinai. Our teens have chosen to name the process Chizuk, or Strengthening, since through this process they are strengthening their already strong Jewish identities and commitments.
During the Covid pandemic, the details of our Chizuk program have been evolving. Please contact Rabbi Hannah at rabbihannah@hillhavurah.org for the latest information.
