Confirmation is an important milestone in our students' journey through lifelong Jewish education. Through study and service, our students "confirm" their commitment to Judaism and to Jewish life.  While considered to be spiritual adults by age 13, it is felt that they are better prepared at age 15 or 16 to make the kind of emotional and intellectual commitment to Judaism that Confirmation implies.

The service of Confirmation is associated with the festival of Shavuot, which celebrates the people of Israel receiving the Torah from God at Mt. Sinai and their consciously and deliberately accepting and confirming the covenant as experessed in the Torah. The service emphasizes the link between each student and his/her Jewish heritage, family and congregation, as expressed through commitment to the timeless Jewish values and traditions taught in Torah.

Confirmation is a group event.  Students study together, work on a group tzedekah project together, and are confirmed together, emphasizing the importance of communal belonging and action that is at the heart of Judaism.

At the completion of their confirmation year (10th grade), all our children are encouraged to continue their education at Temple Beth Ami through 12th grade graduation.

Grade 10 meets once a week in the evening with the Rabbis and the confirmation staff. Many areas of study addressing issues and questions of importance to our teens are covered during the three years  leading to Confirmation (grades 8, 9 and 10). Through such courses as life cycle, theology, the history of the Jewish people and the prayer book, comparative religion and comparative Judaism,  students are encouraged to learn and question as they grow into young adults.

In order to be eligible to participate in the Confirmation ceremony, a student must have successfully completed Grades 8, 9, and 10 in TBAHigh. If a student was not able attend 9th grade, s/he is encouraged to return for the year leading to confirmation (grade 10) and beyond.

Confirmands will have the opportunity to participate in many activities including special events such as retreats, trips, class dinners and synagogue community service projects, etc.

The entire staff recognizes the significant amount of homework and the non-academic commitments our high school students have.  We will work with students to enable them to participate in our Confimration program while meeting their outside obligations and responsbilities.  Students should discuss their individual needs with the Director of Education or the TBAHigh Supervisor

The TBAHigh program is designed to help our students gain new perspectives of themselves and others. This is the age at which teens are seeking individuality and starting to make personal choices about essential issues. Through a variety of approaches, our teens have an opportunity to grow as Jews and to view Judaism as a continuous resource to them.

During the three years leading to Confirmation, students enage in a comprehensive program of classroom study, group activities, experiential learning, and creative activities.  They have the opporunity to examine the classical texts of Jewish tradition and the basic teachings of Judaism at a depth greater than was possible at an earlier stage in their Jewish education. The history and contemporary issues which influence Jewish life today are discussed and analyzed.  In addition, students address the personal and social concerns which they face as young Jews, entering adulthood, getting ready to leave home and experience true independence. 

The primary goals of Confirmation studies are:

• to enable our students to acquire a deeper understanding of Judaism and their Jewish heritage
• to examine critical issues in light of Jewish teachings
• to begin the process of building a strong Jewish identity that will serve their adult spiritual and intellectual needs, and prepare them to be committeed Jews and active participants in the Jewish community