B’nai Mitzvah Revolution Active Learning Network

From January 2013 through June 2014 the B’nai Mitzvah Revolution Active Learning Network, will bring together North American congregations that are working on or interested in revolutionizing b’nai mitzvah. This network of congregations will learn from experts, research, and each other in order to move to action in revolutionizing b’nai mitzvah.

BMR Active Learning Network Congregations will:

  • Engage in online learning to learn from the field and prepare for an in-person gathering.
  • Gather in-person in the winter of 2013 at the URJ Biennial to think about promising innovations and grapple with challenges to introducing those innovations.
  • Work in small groups, guided and advised by mentors to expand your thinking about issues related to b’nai mitzvah, consider which innovations are most appropriate and feasible, and what might be the most productive ways to introduce these innovations.
  • Contribute to and learn from our ongoing research on how congregations are rethinking and reinventing the observance of and preparation for b’nai mitzvah.

Resources and Materials for the BMR Active Learning Network

Click on a Webinar/Assignment to view the materials.

Webinar and Assignment #1: Supporting Early Adolescents in Five Significant Developmental Areas

Webinar and Assignment #2: Value Tensions

Webinar and Assignment #3: Community Engagement

More about the BMR Active Learning Network

Need more info? Click a question to read more.

Which congregations are in the BMR Active Learning Network?

Adath Emanu-El, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Barnert Temple, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
Beth Haverim Shir Shalom, Mahwah, New Jersey
Community Synagogue of Rye, Rye, New York
Congregation Albert, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Congregation B’nai Israel, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim, Deerfield, Illinois
Congregation B’nai Shalom, Westborough, Massachusetts
Congregation Bet Ha’am, South Portland, Maine
Congregation Beth Am, Tampa, Florida
Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego, California
Congregation Beth Or, Maple glen, Pennsylvania
Congregation Beth Tikvah, Worthington, Ohio
Congregation Emanu- El, New York, New York
Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester, Rye, New York
Congregation Kol Haverim, Glastonbury, Connecticut
Congregation Or Ami, Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
Congregation Shaare Emeth, St Louis, Missouri
Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco, California
Congregation Sukkat Shalom, Wilmette, Illinois
East End Temple, New York, New York
Greenwich Reform Synagogue, Greenwich, Connecticut
Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, Houston, Texas
Kol Tikvah, Woodland Hills, California
Larchmont Temple, Larchmont, New York
Leo Baeck, Los Angeles, California
Mount Zion Temple, St. Paul, Minnesota
Neshamah Congregation of York Region, Vaughan, Ontario
North Shore Synagogue, Syosset, New York
North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation, Tahoe Vista, California
Old York Road Temple-Beth Am, Abington, Pennsylvania
Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame, California
Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, Reading, Pennsylvania
Shir Tikvah, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sinai Temple, Springfield, Massachusetts
Suburban Temple-Kol Ami, Beachwood, Ohio
Temple Akiba, Culver City, California
Temple B’nai Israel, Clearwater, Florida
Temple B’nai Torah, Wantagh, New York
Temple Beth Am, Jupiter, Florida
Temple Beth Ami, Rockville, Maryland
Temple Beth David, Cheshire, Connecticut
Temple Beth David, Westwood, Massachusetts
Temple Beth El, Huntington, New York
Temple Beth El, Tacoma, Washington
Temple Beth Israel, Fresno, California
Temple Beth Jacob, Concord, New Hampshire
Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle, Washington
Temple Emanuel, Kensington, Maryland
Temple Emanuel, Pueblo, Colorado
Temple Har Shalom, Warren, New Jersey
Temple Israel of Brevard, Melbourne, Florida
Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, Croton-On-Hudson, New York
Temple Kol Ami, West Bloomfield, Michigan
Temple Kol Emeth, Marietta, Georgia
Temple Oheb Shalom, Baltimore, Maryland
Temple Shalom, Newton, Massachusetts
Temple Sholom in Broomall, Broomall, Pennsylvania
Temple Sinai, Stamford, Connecticut
Temple Sinai, Atlanta, Georgia
Temple Sinai, Cranston, Rhode Island
Temple Sinai, Brookline, Massachusetts
Temple Solel, Bowie, Maryland
Temple Solel, Cardiff, California
The Community Synagogue, Port Washington, New York
The Temple, Nashville, Tennessee
The Temple-Tifereth Israel, Beachwood, Ohio

What is a Collaborative Learning Group?

A Collaborative Learning Group is a small group of congregational teams (approximately 4-6 congregations) that meet regularly to grapple with a similar issue related to revolutionizing b’nai mitzvah. Congregations will be grouped by similar interests and needs. Examples of Collaborative Learning Groups are: ways to modify and personalize the b’nai mitzvah service, making b’nai mitzvah observances more communal, creating t’fillah experiences for children and families, and incorporating families into the experience of b’nai mitzvah preparation.

Each Collaborative Learning Group will meet 8 – 10 times over the course of 12 months, guided and advised by a mentor. Congregations will be expected to do work in between meetings and to share materials with the rest of the group.

What is the “Lessons Learned” research?

While we are excited about the revolutionary experiments we expect to see in BMR congregations, we recognize that testing new approaches to b’nai mitzvah have been happening around North America for some time. Congregations that are working on revolutionizing b’nai mitzvah will benefit from learning about other congregations’ innovations — what the programs look like, the infrastructure to support it, what makes it successful, and the process congregations underwent. We have already begun contacting congregations around North America to learn what they’re doing with b’nai mitzvah and sharing the revolutionary examples. Members of the Active Learning Network will have the opportunity to learn about these findings through email updates, webinars, and online materials.

What is the timetable for the BMR Active Learning Network?

  • January – May 2013: Three webinars available exclusively to Active Learning Network congregations and regular email updates (approximately every 6 weeks) about the ongoing research to learn about b’nai mitzvah innovations and revolutions across North America.
  • Fall 2013 – June 2014: Congregations in the Active Learning Network will join groups: small groups of congregations grappling with similar issues (i.e. ways to modify and personalize the b’nai mitzvah service, making b’nai mitzvah observances more communal, t’fillah experience for children and families, and incorporating families into the experience of b’nai mitzvah preparation). Groups will meet every 4-6 weeks, guided and advised by a professional mentor, and will be expected to do work in between sessions. We’ll also have one webinar in the fall.Your input is needed! Let us know what you’d like to meet about by filling out this short form.
  • Winter 2013: The Active Learning Network will join together for an in-person gathering at the URJ Biennial in San Diego, CA.