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A Jewish Journey Through Adolescence,
From Egypt to Sinai
manu-El’s High School Confirmation Program is an opportunity for Congregation Emanu-El’s ninth through 12th graders to strengthen their connection to Judaism, the Jewish people, their Religious School classmates and the Emanu-El community, while also building their unique identities and their sense of self.Each month, students will take another step in the journey towards confirmation. Sessions will combine experiential education, community building, text study, personal reflection and character-building activities. Students are expected to attend each step of the journey.
The culmination of this program brings together the students, their families and members of the congreation to celebrate this wonderful, meaningful and transformative experience with the confirmation ceremony. Students demonstrate their commitment to Jewish learning by leading worship and offering presentations at the synagogue’s Shavuot service, illustrating their connections to study, prayer and social responsibility.
ABOUT THE JOURNEY
The High School Confirmation Program has been designed to be a communal Jewish journey. This program adds meaning by providing students with the tools to compare the journey through adolescence with the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt and, therefore, lacked the tools and the freedom to act of their own accord. Our tradition identifies the Mount Sinai experience when Moses received the Torah as the moment when the Israelites assumed Jewish responsibility. Similarly, our journey ends at the confirmation ceremony, in which the students affirm responsibility for their own Jewish practice and their own joy, as well as for making the world a better place.
It is important to remember that the Israelites were not simply handed the Torah; they came to stand at Mount Sinai after an unparalleled journey. They escaped slavery, witnessed miracles, overcame incredible obstacles and hardships, and passed through uncharted wilderness. For thousands of years, our tradition has seen this journey as parallel to the one all people take through adolescence. Through our High School Confirmation Program, students will follow a path that parallels the Israelites’ character- and community-building journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai.
PROGRAM FACULTY
Faculty for the program will include:
- Rabbi Ben Zeidman, Assistant Rabbi
- Saul Kaiserman, Director of Lifelong Learning
- Other clergy and staff as guest teachers
If you would like to know more about the confirmation program to determine if it is right for your child or to find out about additional teen community opportunities at Congregation Emanu-El, contact our Confirmation Coordinator.
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