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Dear Confirmation Families,
Shavuot commemorates our ancestors’ history – the transforming encounter at Sinai, fifty days after the Exodus from Egypt inspired one of Reform Judaism’s most creative innovations, the ceremony of Confirmation. For Reform Jews, each new generation was challenged to symbolically make the ascent to Sinai, receive the Torah for themselves, and confirm their own commitment to our faith.
At Shavuot, we are called to renew our Confirmation vows… and together to ascend Sinai anew… receiving the Torah for ourselves-for our own time and place-exemplifying its sacred ideals in our lives. I invite you, our Confirmation Class, to be in conversation with the text. No one has yet written or proclaimed the last word. I want to challenge you to be part of the ongoing dialogue and discussion about Torah. Torah is not the exclusive domain of previous generations or rabbis. It is yours. It is your heritage and therefore your responsibility to keep up the conversation Judaism demands that you think, that you process, that you reflect, that you study and struggle with the tradition and with your responses. From the role of the Talmud and text, we learn that life is not black or white, nor is it grey. Sometimes it is black and white, and maybe even grey, all simultaneously.
The class will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in our Religious Action Center’s L’Taken Seminar. There, you will gain an appreciation of Torah’s relevance to life in today’s world. You will also learn how each of us can make a significant difference in our country. Our tradition celebrates life and living, and offers keys to understanding how to live a meaningful life. By studying its texts, by arguing about their meaning, by debating their applications, by experimenting with traditions, by encountering others in the journey, we are nourished by Judaism, and we create nourishment for others.
Congregation B’nai Israel Confirmation Policy
Adopted and Effective: April 21, 2015
Amended: March 28, 2017
Effective Until: Superseded
Policy
Confirmation Class 5784 (2023-24)
Congregation B’nai Israel
Little Rock, Arkansas
Rabbi Barry Block
Regular Class dates, beginning with pizza dinner at 6pm,
concluding promptly at 8pm, taught by Rabbi Block.
August 23
Meet at 4:30pm at “Our House,” to participate in Temple Social Action project, followed by discussion over dinner at Fantastic China. (Bring money for dinner.)
Regular Class Sessions
Each session begins with dinner, usually cheese pizza and soda, at 6pm, and concludes
by 8pm.
September 6 and 27
October 4 and 18
November 1 and 29
January 10 and 24
February 6 and 21
March 8 and 27
April 10*
Dinner Meeting with Parents and Confirmation Service Preparation 1
April 24
Confirmation Service Preparation 2
May 8
Confirmation Service Preparation 3
Saturday, May 25 2-4pm
Confirmation Service Final Rehearsal
Saturday Evening, May 25
Confirmation![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”593″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right”][/vc_column][/vc_row]