The Confirmation Program
The Reform Movement in Germany developed the Confirmatin ceremony in the early 1800’s. It takes place on Shavuot when students formally affirm their commitment to Jewish tradition and Jewish people. The Confirmands lead the service, share personal reflections on their own place in Judaism and receive congratulatory gifts from the leaders of our congregation. Confirmation serves as the formal conclusion to a young person’s Jewish education and marks their transition to adult learner.
Like most reform synagogues in North America, Temple Israel believes it is a sacred obligation for young people to continue through Confirmation after becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The curriculum challenges participants in the program to affirm their relationship to God, Torah and Israel by the way of examining their responsibilies to the reater world, our community, themselves and others around them. They will be engaged in a Mitzvah Core program and will also have the opportunity to explore ten issues froma Jewish perspective. Topics to be studied include Tikkun Olam, Tzedakah, Gemilut Chasadim,. Social action, Israel anti-Semitism, Jewish theology, personal commitments to ritual observance and personal ethics.
In addition, members of the class wil be expected to participate in a personal and/or group experience with T’zedakah, Gemilut Chasadim, Social Action as well as an annual weekend retreat with faculty and /or Temple leaders to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.