Is your family . . .
- Looking for a bar or bat mitzvah for a child with no Hebrew skills?
- Not interested in synagogue services and membership?
- Too busy to drive a child to Hebrew tutoring? Or prefer an online learning option?
- Needs a bar or bat mitzvah in four months?
Kehillah’s approach helps families and kids of all kinds to have the ceremony that is meaningful to them. Our program is less about telling you what to do, and more about us listening to your needs.
Meet Edva Kashi, Your Judaics Tutor
I’ve been a B’Nai Mitzvah tutor for Kehillah for almost five years. In that time it’s been my pleasure to work with five wonderful students. I often tell them there’s no wrong way to be Jewish. I am grateful to be part of a community that embodies this idea so well.
Edva Kashi, 2024
Meet Rabbi Patrick, Your Ceremony Tutor
Program Options
Your child’s learning is a team effort with Edva Kashi teaching Judaics, and Rabbi Patrick teaching the ceremony elements and co-officiating with your child. There are three packages to choose from, with an additional, fourth option for special needs children only.
Our Judaics curriculum teaches Jewish values, history, and culture, and can (in some cases) be tailored to your child’s interests. We make sure to teach about the holidays and calendar, Jewish history, and about the child’s actual torah portion.
Ceremony learning is based on how much commitment you and your family wish to make. The higher the commitment, the more time there is for more in depth and traditional ceremony options.
Option Alef – (4 month commitment)
Best for families who want some kind of learning, but are not looking for something traditional or requiring a lot of after school learning
- Four, 60-minute lessons with Edva
- Topics covered: Torah, history, major holidays, Jewish values
- Study of Torah portion based on student’s date of birth
- Email/text/phone support between lessons
- Review of student’s speech prior to the ceremony
- Optional 30-minute ceremony prep session with Edva
- This option does not include a ceremony with the rabbi. Edva will officiate a small service
- $1,500 fee (due in full in advance of learning)
Option Bet – (8 months)
Great for families who want a meaning learning experience for their child, a Torah reading at the ceremony, and without a year long commitment
- Eight, 60-minute lessons with Edva
- Topics covered: Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, and Writings), history, the entire Jewish calendar, Jewish values
- Study of Torah portion of the student’s choice
- Email/text/phone support between lessons
- Review of student’s speech prior to the ceremony
- Optional 30-minute ceremony prep session with Edva
- Eight, 60-minute lessons with Rabbi Patrick
- Topics covered: everything from option alef, plus learning important prayers in Hebrew using transliteration (phonetic spelling)
- Ceremony is from the Kehillah B’nai Mitzvah Siddur (prayer book) and includes a two sentence Torah reading (learned using transliteration) and a ceremony that is primarily in Hebrew with English translations and readings. Family must print copies of siddur to have at ceremony
- Email support between lessons
- Additional one hour meeting with family to coordinate logistics of ceremony
- Fee for Edva and Rabbi: $4,800 fee (50% due in advance of learning)
Option Gimmel – (12 months)
Our best option, as it gives families the most personalization and flexibility. Includes a ceremony written with Rabbi Patrick that directly reflects your values, the Torah reading, and deep study with Edva for one year
- Twelve, 60-minute lessons with Edva
- Topics covered: Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, and Writings), history, the entire Jewish calendar, Jewish values
- Study of Torah portion of the student’s choice
- Special topics in contemporary Judaism (any topic of the student’s choice)
- Basic Hebrew (aleph-bet, vocabulary, basic prayers)
- Email/text/phone support between lessons
- Review of student’s speech prior to the ceremony
- Optional 30-minute ceremony prep session with Edva
- Eight, 60-minute lessons with Rabbi Patrick
- Topics covered: everything from option bet, plus a personalized choice of readings, prayers and order of service
- Ceremony is from a personalized version of the Kehillah B’nai Mitzvah Siddur (prayer book) and includes up to a four sentence/one aliyah Torah reading
- Personalized siddur includes the child’s choice of readings from both the Kehillah siddur and other readings which can be included in their siddur.
- Siddur also can include personal photos, family quotes and anything else they would like in the siddur as a memory of the special day. Family must print copies of siddur to have at ceremony
- Email support between lessons
- Additional one hour meeting with family to coordinate logistics of ceremony
- $6,400 fee (50% due in advance of learning)
Special Needs Option
If your child has special needs and is not able to take advantage of the Judaics learning option or have a conventional b’nai mitzvah ceremony experience, we offer a special Shabbat with the Rabbi ceremony that is conducted entirely by the rabbi, with support from the child’s family and friends. This option is only $1,200 and is personalized to meet the child and family where they are by not requiring Judaics learning. Speak with Rabbi Patrick about this option.
Post-Graduate Studies with Edva
Interested in learning more with Edva? She is available for one-hour learning sessions on any Jewish topic of the student’s choice. Length of study is based on the student’s interest and ability to continue. The fee is $100 per session.
Adult B’nai Mitzvah
Interested in becoming b’nai mitzvah at an older age? No problem! Speak with Rabbi Patrick about adult learning options that include asynchronous learning and one-on-one Hebrew tutoring.
Scheduling
Scheduling with Edva and Rabbi are on a first come, first serve basis. Learning can be virtual or in-person depending on the educator’s schedule and family’s location. No-showing to a planned meeting takes away time from our other obligations and will not be tolerated. Frequent “no call, no show” will result in the child’s learning being canceled and the loss of the initial 50% fee.
Payment
There are no additional fees for learning and ceremony unless the ceremony is 25 miles outside of the RVA area. For ceremonies outside of RVA, there is a $4/mile travel fee due at the ceremony.
Payment by check is preferred, or there is a 6% transaction fee for card, Venmo or Paypal.
Get started by filling out our form to receive Free Membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child have to attend Hebrew school? Do we have to attend Shabbat services or holidays? What other commitments do we have to make?
None! You only have to participate in as much of Kehillah’s programming as you want, no judgements whatsoever.
Can families outside of the Richmond area use your service?
Yes! We have worked with families in DC, Chicago, and more.
Where do we hold the ceremony? And when is the ceremony?
You are welcome to have your ceremony anywhere that you would like. We serve bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah families in Richmond, Chesterfield, Charlottesville, Petersburg, Powhatan, Virginia Beach, Chesterfield, Norfolk, and the DC metro area.
Some families rent a venue, some hold the ceremony in their back yard. You can also Zoom guests into the event.
The ceremony takes place on Shabbat (Saturday) morning, afternoon or evening as well as Sunday mornings and afternoons.
We are not religious. Will you work with us? What is a service like?
We can provide a ceremony in any style you would like using Conservative, Reform, or Secular Humanistic readings and interpretations. Choose option Gimmel for this personalized level of service
It is unlikely that my child will learn Hebrew or have time for any significant tutoring, but we still want a b’nai mitzvah. How do we do that?
Our condensed, four month option is perfect for a family who wants the experience of the traditional bar or bat mitzvah, but understanding that families are busy and cannot commit to the kind of tutoring it would take for a full ceremony.
We are an interfaith family. Is that OK?
Yes! We’re honored to work with you.
Do you work with LGBTQ families or gender non-conforming children?
Gladly! We are the first and only Jewish presence at the annual VA Pride.
I have another question. Who should I talk to?
Reach out to our B’nai Mitzvah Educator, Edva Kashi, at kehillahtutoring@gmail.com. You can also fill out the form below.