High School Confirmation

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From Egypt to Sinai:
A Jewish Journey Through Adolescence

manu-El’s High School Confirmation program is a new opportunity for the congregation’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.

The new Lifelong Learning staff, together with members of the clergy, has been working to create a program that will make confirmation the transformative life-cycle event it was intended to be. To do this we asked ourselves, what does it mean to be confirmed? Our answer is that confirmation should be analogous to the moment when the Israelites stood at Mount Sinai, after their Exodus from slavery in Egypt, ready to receive the Torah. It was at this defining moment that the Israelites became a sacred community.

Our confirmation class also will become a sacred community — a community of teens that embrace adolescence as a necessary, fun and meaningful journey. This community also will balance individual and group needs, as well as strive to uphold and act upon Jewish values.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
It is important to remember that the Israelites were not simply handed the Torah. They came to stand at Sinai after an unparalleled, adventure-filled journey. They escaped slavery, witnessed miracles, overcame incredible obstacles and hardships, and journeyed through uncharted wilderness. For thousands of years, our tradition has seen this journey as parallel to the one we take through adolescence. In our High School Confirmation program, students will follow a path that parallels the Israelites’ character- and community-building journey from Egypt to Sinai.

Click here to view the High School Confirmation program calendar, which features descriptions of each step, along with session times and locations.

The High School Confirmation program will consist of a series of eight structured yet informal educational sessions (or “steps”). Each step in the journey towards confirmation will combine text study, experiential education and personal reflection with fun community- and character-building activities. Each student will have the opportunity to choose an area of specialization from the three pillars of Jewish communal life: learning, spirituality and social justice. Students will work together to integrate these pillars into the congregational Purim Carnival. The year will culminate with a confirmation ceremony developed and led by the students. Students are expected to attend all eight steps of the journey.

Through the confirmation program, students metaphorically
will make the journey from Egypt to Sinai by:

• Identifying what is holding them back from actualizing
  their potential selves and then learning how to
  break free from those restraints

   

• Working together to build a sacred community in which
  individual members balance their own needs with those of others

   

• Recognizing a personal sense of purpose and actively participating
  in a strong, progressive Jewish community that seeks to make the world
  a better place through learning, spirituality and social justice

Faculty for the program will include:

• Danny Mishkin, Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Programming

   

• Rabbi Howard Goldsmith, Assistant Rabbi

   

• Saul Kaiserman, Director of Lifelong Learning

   

• Other clergy and clergy interns as guest teachers

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY:
All high school students whose families are members of Congregation Emanu-El may participate in the High School Confirmation program, including students who already have been confirmed as seventh graders and students who never have attended Religious School.

REGISTRATION:
Students interested in participating in the confirmation program should have their parents complete the Religious School registration form (being sure to selcect “High School Confirmation” under “Student Placement Information” and return it to the Department of Lifelong Learning (PDF format, Word format). Students then must attend the first learning session (Step 1: Crying Out Against Injustice and Demanding Freedom), which will be held on Saturday, September 22 at 12:30 P.M., prior to the Yom Kippur Family Service. (Note: This session will be repeated on Monday, September 24 at 6:30 P.M.) Enrollment also may be completed at the first learning session.

There is a $750 fee per student to participate in the confirmation program. Questions should be directed to our Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Informal Learning.


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