Why Hebrew School Students
Choose Confirmation
SELAH MAYA ZIGHELBOIM | JE STAFF
grew up looking up at a photo of her
M ia father Schwartzberg
on a wall at Main Line Reform Temple.

That wall was filled with photos of confirmation students, and
she knew that she wanted to get confirmed, too, and have her
own photo join her father’s. She imagined that, one day, her own
children would be looking up at her.

Through confirmation, Jewish teens “confirm” their commit-
ment to Jewish life. According to My Jewish Learning, the practice
in Judaism originated from the Reform movement in the 19th
century out of the belief that older teenagers were more mature
and more prepared to take on that commitment.

Nowadays, students in Hebrew schools at many synagogues
can choose to continue their education after their b’nai mitzvah.

That continued education is often recognized at the end of their
10th-grade year, usually around Shavuot, with a confirmation
ceremony. Earlier this year, Schwartzberg, a student at Lower Merion
High School, completed her 10th grade year at TheTribe, Main
Line Reform Temple’s high school program.

“After the time of my bat mitzvah, it wasn’t really a question of
whether I would go to confirmation class because, over the years,
it has been an enjoyable experience, rather than being forced to
go,” Schwartzberg said. “I enjoyed going to Hebrew school every
week, so then when it became after my Bat Mitzvah, I figured,
‘Why not stay?’”
Her confirmation ceremony was a Friday evening service.

Throughout, the students read essays or speeches they had
prepared. But her connection to her Judaism extends beyond her confir-
mation ceremony. She plans to continue her Jewish education at
Main Line Reform Temple. Outside of synagogue, she is involved
in BBYO and has joined Jewish Family and Children’s Service new
junior board.

Last year, she decided to attend Alexander Muss High School
Leo Perlstein at the Western Wall
10 OCTOBER 24, 2019
Courtesy of Leo Perlstein
Mia Schwartzberg and her family at her confirmation ceremony
Courtesy of Mia Schwartzberg
in Israel, a study abroad program. Schwartzberg learned of the
program through a friend and pursued the opportunity to get up
close with the places mentioned in the Torah.

“Ever since I was little, my Jewish identity has been a big part of
the things I do and how I live my life,” she said.

Leah Isayev, a Haverford High School student who goes to
Temple Sholom in Broomall, explained that her confirmation
ceremony was mostly like a regular service, with special recogni-
tion of the work the students had put in to get to this milestone, as
well as speeches by the students.

“I really loved the community at my synagogue,” Isayev said,
reflecting on why she decided to continue her Jewish education.

“I really enjoyed Judaism itself. I just love the idea. The whole
purpose is helping the community, just making the world a
better place.”
It was less stressful than having a bat mitzvah, she said, because
that coming-of-age ritual focuses on just one person, whereas
she went through the confirmation ceremony with the rest of her
class. There was also more work leading up to the bat mitzvah.

Despite that, she found the lessons leading up to her confir-
mation ceremony — where students learned about other religions
and studied the Ten Commandments — more meaningful.

“I feel like I connected to the religion more, to see compari-
sons to other religions and what they believe,” Isayev said. “It made
SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



me feel like I was practicing the right
religion.” At Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El in
Wynnewood, Brandon Bowman went
through his own confirmation ceremony
a few months ago, too.

Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El is one of
the four Conservative synagogues that
partner with Lower Merion Area Hebrew
High. The post-B’nai Mitzvah program
offers a confirmation trip to Israel, and
Bowman and some of his friends decided
they would go on that trip together. His
parents, he said, also didn’t give him
much of a choice.

Bowman, a student at Radnor High
School, had never enjoyed Hebrew school
before, but LMAHH was different.

They learned about current events and
the weekly Torah reading, Bowman said.

High school programs usually offer more
flexibility than programs for younger
students, and LMAHH is no exception.

The students got to choose what they
wanted to spend the second part of the
day learning. Bowman often chose to
learn about Israel.

“Before my bar mitzvah, I did not
want to go to Hebrew school at all,”
Bowman said. “Then after my bar
mitzvah, I was still kind of the same until
Leah Isayev and her mother
Photo courtesy of Leah Isayev
Brandon Bowman (left) and his friends at the
Western Wall
Photo courtesy of Brandon Bowman
I started LMAHH. LMAHH was pretty
interesting. It wasn’t really traditional.

... When I got to LMAHH, the rabbis
and the people in charge there knew
that a teenager doesn’t want to come in
Sunday morning ... so they really had a
good lesson plan. They really benefited
us, motivating us to come and enjoy our
time there.”
Bowman now sits on the board of his
BBYO chapter and is working to start a
Jewish students club at his high school.

Leo Perlstein, a 10th grader at Harriton
High School, is just beginning his own
confirmation year at Har Zion Temple,
also through LMAHH. Both his older
sisters continued their Jewish education
after their b’not mitzvah, and he recog-
nized that there was more to learn about
Judaism beyond his bar mitzvah.

But, for him, the point isn’t confirma-
tion itself. He just sees that as a part of his
larger Jewish education.

“I’m always going to continue my
Judaism wherever I go and keep it with
me,” Perlstein said. “It’s good to be part
of that community and good to continue
being Jewish.” ❤
szighelboim@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729
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