Jun 3rd 2011, 00:00

            First, I have to say “Happy 14th Birthday!” to my daughter Leah today.  Secondly, I want to say “Mazal Tov” to our 5771 / 2011 Confirmation Class, which will lead our Shabbat service tomorrow morning.  Many of the students in this year’s class have been here since preschool and we are proud of all of them.
            The ceremony of Confirmation is an innovation of the Reform Movement that dates back to the late 19th century.  The early Reformers, some of whom were opposed to bar mitzvah, wanted a new, more modern ceremony that also included girls.  Modeled after the idea and ceremony of confirmation in the Protestant Church, Confirmation in the Reform Movement came to symbolize “Kabbalat Torah,” the acceptance of the Torah as an adult.
            Most Reform congregations hold the Confirmation service on or near the holiday of Shavu’ot (which begins this year next Tuesday night), which commemorates the giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai.  What the students are confirming is their acceptance of our laws, traditions, values, ethics, morals, standards, and practices.  Of course, we all know that 15 and 16 year olds still have a lot of growing and maturing ahead of them, but for all practical purposes, Confirmation marks the end of their formal religious school education.
            In almost all Reform congregations that have Confirmation, the rabbi teaches the class.  That is how it was when I was in 10th grade and I have been teaching Confirmation for some 20 years.  This year marks my 10th class here at Temple Beth Tikvah.  In my class, I try to focus on the issue of identity, because it is precisely at this vulnerable age that our teens are struggling with who they are as emerging young adults and future leaders in the Jewish community.  We talk about who is a Jew and what is a Jew, and I try to challenge my students to think hard, think for themselves, and to defend their opinions.  We discuss the current hot button issues and study the teachings and values of Judaism to see where and how they can be applied to their lives.
            When former TBT students return, they always go to the Confirmation picture wall, often times showing their own children and friends what they looked like when they were teens, and trying to remember the names of the other students.  Being on “the wall” is somewhat of a status symbol and is very important and symbolic to many of our current and former families.
            I try not to take it personally, but I am always disappointed when our students do not continue their religious education beyond bar/bat mitzvah.  After all, what parent would allow their child to drop out of public school after the 7th grade?  I know our children are very busy these days and I also know they have a lot of homework and other activities and pulls on their time, but I also believe that we have something very important to teach them in the years beyond their bar/bat mitzvah.  And that is why I am so very proud of the students that do continue and of the families that make the Temple and the continuing education of their children a priority.  So again, Mazal Tov to this year’s Confirmation class!
            Tonight at 7:30 PM is our Family Shabbat service with birthday and anniversary blessings.  Tomorrow, Torah Study begins at 9:00 AM and our Shabbat morning Confirmation service begins at 10:00 AM.  Both services will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.templebethtikvah.com (click on Live Services).  Have a great weekend.