Why Join Us for Confirmation, Shabbat Services, Tonight, 7 PM?

Bar and Bat Mitzvah come to mind when we think of the ceremony marking the entry to Jewish spiritual adulthood. After all, Judaism has long taught that the 13th birthday is the moment when a person stops being a child and becomes an adult. Yet, in the early days of the Reform Judaism in 19th century Europe, our Rabbis tried to cast this benchmark aside in favor of Confirmation. First, Bar Mitzvah only applied to boys through the centuries, and the Rabbis sought a ceremony that would enfranchise girls into Jewish maturity. Second, by raising the age of Jewish maturity to the mid to late teens, the Rabbis had an opportunity to provide deeper and more serious education to strengthen the Jewish foundation of our youth.

Rabbi Isaac Ashwer Francolm (1788-1849, Konigsberg and Breslau, Germany) was probably the first to introduce the confirmation of girls. Describing this groundbreaking innovation, he wrote of a period of extended study followed by a confirmation ceremony that was “a solemn observance which is meant to make a deep impression upon the young soul.” In 1852, an anonymous source wrote from Paris that “Confirmation takes place in the synagogue every year after the Shavuot Festival…. Children of both sexes from families of the most diverse backgrounds obtain a thorough knowledge and love of their faith.”

Tonight, Temple Shaaray Tefila will honor our history by confirming five teens who undertook a year of study with Rabbi Shlobin and myself. Each confirmand prepared a written research project on topics as diverse as the world Jewish community, history of antisemitism, antisemitism in the media in print and online, and synagogue architecture. These papers will be distributed to the congregation tonight at a service that will be led by the class. We hope you can join us for this meaningful and moving ceremony that honors and celebrates the Jewish spiritual maturity of our youth.

Rabbi Dennis Ross