Confirmation Class
Confirmation is designed for students in tenth grade. It is taught by the rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom and encourages students to develop a meaningful relationship with him while they are in high school and before they go off to college. In this ceremony, each student "confirms" a commitment to Judaism and to Jewish life. Confirmation is something our young people do a few years after their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, at a greater level of maturity along with other Jewish teens, in a group experience. Confirmation teaches us that we are inextricably intertwined with other Jews and will always remain a part of our people.
Confirmation studies teach young adult Jews that they are entering "a sacred community" in which they can question, challenge, and debate Jewish questions without being judged. The confirmation model also encourages youth to work together as a community to contribute to the world around them and emphasizes the importance of communal participation in Judaism.
Jewish leaders drew a parallel between the Jewish people’s acceptance of the Torah at Mount Sinai and Jewish confirmation students accepting the role of Judaism in their lives. Thus, it has become customary to hold confirmation ceremonies on the festival of Shavuot, which celebrates the anniversary of receiving the Torah. The graduating class stands in front of the ark just as the Israelites once stood at Mount Sinai. The students are actively involved in all aspects of the service.
Affiliated with the