Welcome to James Ryan's Bar Mitzvah Website!
A Note From James
For those who are attending this Bar Mitzvah service, welcome. Please note that this Bar Mitzvah will be different from a traditional Bar Mitzvah in several ways, since I am a Secular Humanistic Jew and a member of The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism in New York City.
You can find out more about The City Congregation here: http://www.citycongregation.orgweeblylink_new_window
First, a brief note about Secular Humanistic Judaism. Secular Humanistic Judaism was founded in Detroit in 1964 by Rabbi Sherwin Wine. It is a worldwide movement that embraces a human-centered philosophy and combination of Jewish traditions and an adherence to humanistic values and ideas. In other words, the movement centers around humans helping each other, as opposed to turning to a more theistic approach for support. This also means that, as a Jew, I have the right to live a Jewish lifestyle in a free, pluralistic environment, and that I am not restricted by supernatural beliefs or traditional readings. Instead, I am inspired to expand upon these readings and to live a life of personal dignity and self-esteem.
In a traditional Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a boy or girl of 13 years of age is expected to read a portion of the Torah. These passages usually include the Havtorah and the leading of prayers over candles, wine, and bread. To complete this process, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are expected to attend a minimum amount of Sabbath services and to practice their portions and to learn to read and pronounce Hebrew. Our Congregation's Bar Mitzvah process is quite different from a traditional approach.
Instead of reading from the Torah to complete my Bar Mitzvah process, I wrote several papers over the course of two years with the help of a mentor from my congregation. Among these papers was a paper in which I discussed my family’s values, an informative consideration of a hero or role model, an essay describing my hours of community service, and a major paper pertaining to a larger project about Judaism. We also use a unique and innovative Bar Mitzvah service, in which I invite friends and family members to participate.
My service also focuses more on a human element in the Bar Mitzvah service. For instance, blessings direct their thanks to workers and other people. The service also incorporates fewer traditional Torah passages in Hebrew and instead includes materials from a broad spectrum of Jewish literature, more modern quotes and reflections on the Bar Mitzvah process.
Once again, welcome to my Bar Mitzvah. Please enjoy.
For those who are attending this Bar Mitzvah service, welcome. Please note that this Bar Mitzvah will be different from a traditional Bar Mitzvah in several ways, since I am a Secular Humanistic Jew and a member of The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism in New York City.
You can find out more about The City Congregation here: http://www.citycongregation.orgweeblylink_new_window
First, a brief note about Secular Humanistic Judaism. Secular Humanistic Judaism was founded in Detroit in 1964 by Rabbi Sherwin Wine. It is a worldwide movement that embraces a human-centered philosophy and combination of Jewish traditions and an adherence to humanistic values and ideas. In other words, the movement centers around humans helping each other, as opposed to turning to a more theistic approach for support. This also means that, as a Jew, I have the right to live a Jewish lifestyle in a free, pluralistic environment, and that I am not restricted by supernatural beliefs or traditional readings. Instead, I am inspired to expand upon these readings and to live a life of personal dignity and self-esteem.
In a traditional Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a boy or girl of 13 years of age is expected to read a portion of the Torah. These passages usually include the Havtorah and the leading of prayers over candles, wine, and bread. To complete this process, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are expected to attend a minimum amount of Sabbath services and to practice their portions and to learn to read and pronounce Hebrew. Our Congregation's Bar Mitzvah process is quite different from a traditional approach.
Instead of reading from the Torah to complete my Bar Mitzvah process, I wrote several papers over the course of two years with the help of a mentor from my congregation. Among these papers was a paper in which I discussed my family’s values, an informative consideration of a hero or role model, an essay describing my hours of community service, and a major paper pertaining to a larger project about Judaism. We also use a unique and innovative Bar Mitzvah service, in which I invite friends and family members to participate.
My service also focuses more on a human element in the Bar Mitzvah service. For instance, blessings direct their thanks to workers and other people. The service also incorporates fewer traditional Torah passages in Hebrew and instead includes materials from a broad spectrum of Jewish literature, more modern quotes and reflections on the Bar Mitzvah process.
Once again, welcome to my Bar Mitzvah. Please enjoy.