Today, the Bat Mitzvah may seem like a routine aspect of a young girl's Jewish life. But less than 100 years ago, no public ceremony existed to mark a girl's coming of age, and over the past century, what a "Bat Mitzvah" looks like has continually shifted. This lesson uses the letters from one girl's campaign to have the first Saturday morning Bat Mitzvah in her congregation as a case study for exploring how we confront controversial issues and make change in our communities.
This lesson is recommended for grade 5 and above.
An alternative version of this lesson, designed for family education, is available here.
- Lifecycle
- 3 - 5
- 6 - 7
- After School and Beyond
- Congregational Learning
- Day Schools and Yeshivas
- Family Engagement
- Teen Engagement
Discover more
Educational resources on the rituals and practices of Jewish life including birth, marraige, conversion, and mourning.
Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York. Mitzvah Corps is a hands-on learning model for 7th-grade students with eight units based on ethical mitzvoth each with Learning, Action, and Reflection components.
Living Judaism is an all-inclusive experiential learning model of Jewish Education. The purpose of the model is to engage every learner, provide carefully constructed learning experiences, build a strong identity, root students firmly in tradition, and create memories to last for years to come.