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The book contains a few worthy passages, but he didacticism is a bit too much so I cannot recommend it
Our rabbi gives a copy of this book to each family as they prepare for their son or daughter to become bar/bat mitzvah. By coincidence, the author of the book was our scholar in residence last week, so I had the opportunity to read the book and then hear him speak about it (and other topics throughout the weekend).
I became bat mitzvah in 1984 and have always been a practicing Reform Jew, so there is not a lot of new information in the book for me, but I appreciated the perspective. As the older of my two boys prepares to become bar mitzvah next year, it is helpful to have reminders of the values behind this rite of passage. I also appreciated the suggestions for bringing the spirit of bar mitzvah into life beyond seventh grade.
I became bat mitzvah in 1984 and have always been a practicing Reform Jew, so there is not a lot of new information in the book for me, but I appreciated the perspective. As the older of my two boys prepares to become bar mitzvah next year, it is helpful to have reminders of the values behind this rite of passage. I also appreciated the suggestions for bringing the spirit of bar mitzvah into life beyond seventh grade.
Meh. Elements of this book were good, but the author spent a lot of time talking about ancient traditions and stories, rather than more modern tips for concretely refocusing attention on the spirituality of a bar or bat mitzvah. I found myself skipping a lot of the storytelling.
That said, I appreciated his clear perspective and his encouragements for parents to explore their own spirituality, rather than just serving as party planners for children.
That said, I appreciated his clear perspective and his encouragements for parents to explore their own spirituality, rather than just serving as party planners for children.
Coming at this book from a Messianic perspective, I gained much more from it than I thought it would. I love how at the end of each chapter, there is a question or three to help you delve deeper into why you are having a ceremony and what you want your child to get out of it.
Our rabbi gives a copy of this book to each family as they prepare for their son or daughter to become bar/bat mitzvah. By coincidence, the author of the book was our scholar in residence last week, so I had the opportunity to read the book and then hear him speak about it (and other topics throughout the weekend).
I became bat mitzvah in 1984 and have always been a practicing Reform Jew, so there is not a lot of new information in the book for me, but I appreciated the perspective. As the older of my two boys prepares to become bar mitzvah next year, it is helpful to have reminders of the values behind this rite of passage. I also appreciated the suggestions for bringing the spirit of bar mitzvah into life beyond seventh grade.
I became bat mitzvah in 1984 and have always been a practicing Reform Jew, so there is not a lot of new information in the book for me, but I appreciated the perspective. As the older of my two boys prepares to become bar mitzvah next year, it is helpful to have reminders of the values behind this rite of passage. I also appreciated the suggestions for bringing the spirit of bar mitzvah into life beyond seventh grade.