Bar- and Bat-Mitzva are celebrated within the context of a caring community that emphasizes the mitzva over the “bar.” Students meet individually and in groups with their teachers and with Rabbi Woodward. Celebrants lead parts of the services, perform mitzva projects and study for its own sake. For your reference here, or in printed form from the synagogue office:
Guide to Shabbat Morning Services – A concise explanation of the Shabbat morning service
Bnai Mitzvah Guide – updated 2023 – To guide the planning of your upcoming Bnai Mitzvah
B’nai Mitzvah Room Usage Agreement – Reserve BEKI facilities for the celebration
Aliya Worksheet – Service participants and aliya worksheet
For more information contact Rabbi Woodward rabbi@beki.org. In addition to parents, in the list below, grandparents who are members may also be referenced.
B’nai Mitzva by Year
2024
- Aaron Yovel Robbins, child of Julie and Gadiel Robbins, March 9, parashat Vayakhel
- Samantha (Sammi) Barkon, child of Bonnie Pepper and Aaron Barkon, March 16, parashat Pekudei
- Maya Gersch, child of Sarah Levine and Timothy Gersch, November 9, parashat Lech-Lecha
2023
- Mick Lebowitz, child of Mira and Eli Lebowitz, February 4, parashat Beshallach
- Eleanor Blessing, child of Marcelle and Jonathan Blessing, March 11, parashat Ki Tissa (Shabbat Parah)
- Jesse Mattison, child of Lisa Yelon and Ben Mattison, April 22, parashat Tazriah-Metzorah
- Samuel Aaron Werlin, child of Steve Werlin & Lesley Frame, June 3, parashat Nasso
- Esther Schonberger, child of Amy Marx and Rob Schonberger, October 21, parashat Noach
2022
- Zoe Katz, child of Julie and Samuel Katz, January 8, parashat Bo
- L. Rosenthal, child of Diane Purvin & Seth Rosenthal, March 5, parashat Pekudei
- Joel Grutzendler, child of Nicole Korda and Jaime Grutzendler, May 28, parashat Bechukotai
- Shai Jonathan Hurwitz, child of Debbie Chirnomas and Michael Hurwitz, September 3, parashat Shoftim
- Rachel Anderson, child of Sherin Stahl and George Anderson, October 22, parashat Bereshit
- Natalya Moycik, child of Marisol Sanchez-Moycik & Thomas Moycik, November 5, parashat Lech-Lecha
- Klara Oppenheimer, child of Cyd and Mark Oppenheimer, November 12, parashat Vayeira
2021
- Elisabeth Oppenheimer, child of Mark and Cyd Oppenheimer, May 8, parashat Behar-Bechukotai
- Itamar Lebowitz, child of Eli and Mira Lebowitz, July 10, parashat Matot-Masei
- Aviva Robbins, child of Gadiel and Julie Robbins, October 9, parashat Noach
2020
- Ari Hurwitz, child of Michael Hurwitz & Deborah Chirnomas, Monday 12 October 2020, parashat Bereishit
- Nate Kempton, child of Jennifer Myer & James Kempton, 26-27 June 2020, parashat Qorah
- Teya Klein-Berger and Hannah Klein-Berger, children of James Berger & Jennifer Klein, 13-14 March 2020, parashat Ki Tisa
- Dylan Sachs, child of Robert & Betsy Sachs, grandchild of Rita Sachs, afternoon of 7 March 2020, parashat Ki Tisa
2019
- Jacob Marx Schonberger, child of Amy Marx & Robert Schonberger, 25-26 October 2019, parashat Bereishit
- Malachi Light, child of Rachel Light & Jonathan Freiman, and of Eben Light, 19-20 July 2019, parashat Balaq
- Elijah Ratner, child of Rabbi Joshua & Elena Ratner, 21-22 June 2019, parashat BeHa`alotekha
- Miranda Hurwitz, child of Michael Hurwitz & Deborah Chirnomas, Sunday 5 May 2019, Rosh Hodesh Iyyar
- Miles Katz, child of Julie & Samuel Katz, 1-2 February 2019, parashat Mishpatim
- Rebekah Oppenheimer, child of Mark & Cyd Oppenheimer, 18-19 January 2019, Shabbat Shira (Sabbath of childg), parashat BeShalah
2018
- Daniel Manning, child of Chaya & Edward Manning, 26-27 October 2018, parashat VaYera
- Elia Ahmadi and Kian Ahmadi, children of Ramin Ahmadi & Roya Hakakian, 5-6 October 2018, parashat Bereishit
- Noah Logue, child of Michael & Elona Logue, 5-6 October 2018, parashat Bereishit, off-site (Vermont)
- Marcia Colten and Reuben Colten, children of Sarah Berry & Roger Colten, 13-14 July 2018, parashiyot Matot-Masei
- Melanie Sachs, child of Robert & Betsy Sachs, grandchild of Rita Sachs, 26 May 2018, minha parashat BeHa`alotekha
- Sara Walstedter, child of Scott & Lisa Walstedter, 20-21 April 2018, parashiyot Tazria-Metsora
2017
- Jalina Secchiaroli, child of Dina & Michael Secchiaroli, 10-11 November 2017, parashat Hayei Sara
- Dani Callaghan, child of Rebecca Gratz & Steve Sitrin, and of Joseph Callaghan, 3-4 November 2017, parashat VaYera
- Ella May, child of Becky & C.J. May, 11-12 August 2017, parashat Eqev
- Hannah Herbst, child of Roy & Karen Herbst, 9-10 June 2017, parashat BeHa`alotekha
- Elijah Light, child of Rachel Light & Jonathan Freiman, and of Eban Light, 12-13 May 2017, parashat Emor
- Sarah Rastelli, child of Rebecca Weiner & Michael Rastelli, 17-18 March 2017, Shabbat Para (Sabbath of the Cow), parashat Ki Tisa
- Serena Sachs, child of Robert & Betsy Sachs, grandchild of Rita Sachs, 7 January 2017, (minha) parashat VaYehi
2016
- Sophie Marx Schonberger, child of Amy Marx & Robert Schonberger, 18-19 November 2016, parashat VaYera
- Mia Goldstein, child of Daniel Goldstein & Grace Jenq, 4-5 November 2016, parashat Noah
- Helen Gerber, child of Alan & Rachel Wiseman Gerber, 28-29 October 2016, parashat Bereishit
- Milo Sobel-Lewin, child of Suzanne Sobel & David Lewin, 23-24 September 2016, parshat Ki Tavo
- Michelle Grutzendler, child of Nicole & Jaime Grutzendler, 16-17 September 2016, parashat Ki Tetsei
- David Walstedter, child of Scott & Lisa Walstedter, 22-23 July 2016, parashat Balaq
- Noam Benson-Tilsen, child of Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen & Miriam Benson, grandchild of Evelyn Benson, 24-25 June 2016, parashat BeHa’alotekha
- Dimitri Ratner, child of Rabbi Joshua & Elena Ratner, 17-18 June 2016, parashat Naso
- Ayelet Kaminski, child of Naftali & Iris Kaminski, 3-4 June 2016, parashat BeHuqotai
- Caleb Freiman, child of Jonathan Freiman & Rachel Light, and of the late Amy Aaland, 13-14 May 2016, parashat Qedoshim
- Jaden Labowe-Stoll, child of Sara J. Labowe and of Steven Stoll & Leslie Powell, 25-26 March 2016, parashat Tsav
2015
- Eitan Hirshfield, child of Monica Starr & Andy Hirshfield, grandchild of Jay & Marge Hirshfield, 4-5 December 2015, parashat VaYeshev
- Benjamin Birn, child of Harold & Stephanie Birn, 13-14 November 2015, parashat Toldot
- Eran Avni-Singer, child of A. Joseph & Ravit Avni-Singer, 16-17 October 2015, parashat Noah
- Aaron Bruce and Benjamin Bruce, childs of Harriet Friedman & Charles Bruce, grandchild of Albert Friedman, 9-10 October 2015, parashat Bereishit
- Owen Kempton, child of Jennifer Myer & James Kempton, 14-15 August 2015, parashat Re’e & Rosh Hodesh
- Adin Jennings and Fiona Jennings children of Jeff & Miriam Jennings, 26-27 June 2015, parashat Huqat
- Guido Secchiaroli, child of Dina & Michael Secchiaroli, 19-20 June 2015, parashat Qorah
- Isaac Callaghan, child of Rebecca Gratz & Steve Sitrin, and of Joseph Callaghan, 5-6 June 2015, parashat BeHa`alotekha
- Ari Gad, child of Martin & Lana Gad, 29-30 May 2015, parashat Naso
- Matthew Silverman, child of Debbie & Abe Silverman, nephew of Ina Silverman & Jay Sokolow, 8-9 May 2015, parashat Emor
- Benjamin Goldstein, child of Daniel Goldstein & Grace Jenq, 24-25 April 2015, parashiyot Tazria – Metsora
- Rafi Gottlieb, child of Miriam Feinstein and of Andres Gottlieb, 20-21 March 2015, Shabbat HaGadol, Rosh Hodesh Nisan, parashat VaYiqra
2014
- Elijah Freiman, child of Jonathan Freiman & Rachel Light, and of the late Amy Aaland, 7-8 November 2014, parashat VaYera
- Jessie Goodwin, child of Richard Goodwin & Rachel Lampert, grandchild of Paul Goodwin, 19-20 September 2014, parashiyot Nitsavim-VaYeilekh
- Kinneret Levene Magid, child of Nancy Levene and of Shaul Magid, 12-13 September 2014, parashat Ki Tavo, off-site (Fire Island Synagogue)
- Emily Sachs, child of Robert & Betsy Sachs, grandchild of Ivan & Rita Sachs, 19 July 2014, parashat Matot
- Randy Kohn, child of Mark & Renee Kohn, 16-17 May 2014, parashat BeHuqotai
- Elijah Labowe-Stoll, child of Steven Stoll and of Sara J. Labowe, 9-10 May 2014, parashat BeHar
- Avital Sutin, child of Allan & Rachel Sutin, 4-5 April 2014, parashat Metsora
- Jacob Lettick, child of Robert & Janice Lettick, 21-22 March 2014, Shabbat Para (Sabbath of the Cow), parashat Shemini
- Talia Weintraub, child of Dan & Beth Weintraub, 7-8 March 2014, parashat VaYiqra
- Hana Feldman, child of Martin Feldman and of the late Cathy Schwartz, 10-11 January 2014, parashat BeShalah
2013
- Noah Sobel-Lewin, child of Suzanne Sobel & David Lewin, 4-5 October 2013, parashat Noah, Rosh Hodesh Heshvan
- Justin Lazarus, child of Illana & Sean Lazarus, Shabbat 21-22 June 2013, parashat Balaq
- Rachel Buckman, child of Ken & Linda Buckman, grandchild of Ivan & Rita Sachs, Sunday 9 June 2013, Rosh Hodesh Tamuz
- Benjamin Sauberman, child of Marcia Landesman & Oren Sauberman, 24-25 May 2013, parashat BeHa’alotekha
- Sophia Colodner, child of Lisa Stanger & Greg Colodner, 10-11 May 2013, parashat BeMidbar
- Yaakov Gottlieb, child of Miriam Feinstein and of Andres Gottlieb, 1-2 March 2013, Shabbat Para (Sabbath of the Cow), parashat Ki Tisa
- Eitan Minsky-Fenick, child of Yair Minsky & Ada Fenick, 4-5 January 2013, parashat Shemot
