How a ‘b mitzvah’ at a Humanistic We cover chicago · 2019-08-28 · Humanistic Congregation...
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By SUSAN ADDELSON AT FIRST GLANCE, Ben Po- lonsky’s bar mitzvah looked like many others. A proud 13-year-old boy, standing on a podium, dressed in a suit, reading from the Torah. But look closer. No kippah (skullcap) or tallis (prayer shawl). Indeed, Polonsky’s “b mitzvah”—a gender neutral term used in place of “bar” or “bat mitzvahs” at some con- gregations—at Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation wasn’t like all others. Lincolnshire’s Kol Hadash is one of two Humanistic congregations in the Chicago metropolitan area. The other is Beth Chaverim Humanistic Jewish Community in Deer- field. At the core of Human- istic Judaism is a belief in the importance of cultural—albeit secular—Judaism. At Kol Hadash, b mitzvah students choose their own Torah portion or another topic that inspires them in a mean- ingful way. So, instead of read- ing the prescribed Torah por- tion for that week “Bechuko- tai” (“By My Laws” Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34), Polonsky chose Numbers 14: 11-23, where Mo- ses argues with God. Rather than a message of about fol- lowing the rules or else, Po- lonsky discussed standing up to authority, including teach- ers and even his parents. And what about God? If Polonsky believed in God, he would have advocated stand- ing up to God, too, just as Moses did. “For us to be Jew- ish is to be an heir to Jewish tradition, not a museum cura- tor,” Kol Hadash’s Rabbi Adam Chalom explained at the be- ginning of Polonsky’s service. “To inherit means it becomes yours to choose from, adapt, and use consistently with your own values and beliefs.” But, if a b mitzvah cer- emony is not traditionally religious, then why have one? “It was right for our family because we had a lot of input into the service, which made it meaningful and relevant. Ben chose his Torah portion based on values that are im- portant to him,” said Polon- sky’s father, Dan. For her big day, Gertie Har- ris examined Dr. Ho Feng- Shan, a man who saved many Jewish lives by helping them escape Austria in the 1930s. “Dr. Ho’s work is a great example of the values of Hu- manistic Judaism. We believe that people are responsible for making the world better, and we don’t wait for something else or someone else to do it for us,” Harris, of Winnetka, said during her b mitzvah speech. “It’s also important to understand that it takes courage to take action instead of waiting and praying for a solution—and Dr. Ho certainly showed a lot of courage.” The students at the con- gregation also pick service projects that tie into their b mitzvah topics. For instance, Harris volunteered for a local food bank because “this food depository helps anyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, just as Dr. Ho helped people he had no con- nections to,” she said. Alec Ratnaswamy chose the topic of American Jewish hu- mor. When he learned about the healing powers of humor, he volunteered at the Humor Cart at Lutheran General Hospital to help children heal by laughing. “The b mitzvah is essentially a Jewish ‘coming of age’ cer- emony, like you see in many cultures,” Chalom said. “If we want to welcome a child into our adult community, then it just makes sense to encourage them to find something in their Jewish heritage, from the wide sweep of the Jewish experi- ence, that interests and inspires them. That way, their Jewish- ness becomes their own.” n Kol Hadash Humanistic Con- gregation is holding an FAQ session on humanistic b mitz- vahs on Thursday, Aug. 29. To learn more, call (847) 383-5184. Susan Addelson is the mar- keting chair of Kol Hadash Hu- manistic Congregation. How a ‘b mitzvah’ at a Humanistic congregation is different from all others Ben Polonsky’s b mitzvah, like Kol Hadash itself, is secular. Members of the congregation connect to their Jewish history and culture in a deeply personal way, without a religious focus. Photo credit: Aleya Cydney Photography. e 8.19 JUF News.indd 37
Transcript of How a ‘b mitzvah’ at a Humanistic We cover chicago · 2019-08-28 · Humanistic Congregation...
37JUF News, August 2019
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By SUSAN ADDELSON
AT FIRST GLANCE, Ben Po-lonsky’s bar mitzvah looked like many others. A proud 13-year-old boy, standing on a podium, dressed in a suit, reading from the Torah. But look closer. No kippah (skullcap) or tallis (prayer shawl). Indeed, Polonsky’s “b mitzvah”—a gender neutral term used in place of “bar” or “bat mitzvahs” at some con-gregations—at Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation wasn’t like all others.
Lincolnshire’s Kol Hadash is one of two Humanistic congregations in the Chicago metropolitan area. The other is Beth Chaverim Humanistic Jewish Community in Deer-field. At the core of Human-istic Judaism is a belief in the importance of cultural—albeit secular—Judaism.
At Kol Hadash, b mitzvah students choose their own Torah portion or another topic that inspires them in a mean-ingful way. So, instead of read-ing the prescribed Torah por-tion for that week “Bechuko-tai” (“By My Laws” Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34), Polonsky chose Numbers 14: 11-23, where Mo-ses argues with God. Rather
than a message of about fol-lowing the rules or else, Po-lonsky discussed standing up to authority, including teach-ers and even his parents.
And what about God? If Polonsky believed in God, he would have advocated stand-ing up to God, too, just as Moses did. “For us to be Jew-ish is to be an heir to Jewish tradition, not a museum cura-tor,” Kol Hadash’s Rabbi Adam Chalom explained at the be-ginning of Polonsky’s service. “To inherit means it becomes yours to choose from, adapt, and use consistently with your own values and beliefs.”
But, if a b mitzvah cer-emony is not traditionally religious, then why have one? “It was right for our family because we had a lot of input into the service, which made it meaningful and relevant. Ben chose his Torah portion based on values that are im-portant to him,” said Polon-sky’s father, Dan.
For her big day, Gertie Har-ris examined Dr. Ho Feng-Shan, a man who saved many Jewish lives by helping them escape Austria in the 1930s. “Dr. Ho’s work is a great example of the values of Hu-manistic Judaism. We believe that people are responsible for
making the world better, and we don’t wait for something else or someone else to do it for us,” Harris, of Winnetka, said during her b mitzvah speech. “It’s also important to understand that it takes courage to take action instead of waiting and praying for a solution—and Dr. Ho certainly showed a lot of courage.”
The students at the con-gregation also pick service projects that tie into their b mitzvah topics. For instance, Harris volunteered for a local food bank because “this food depository helps anyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, just as Dr. Ho helped people he had no con-nections to,” she said.
Alec Ratnaswamy chose the topic of American Jewish hu-mor. When he learned about the healing powers of humor, he volunteered at the Humor Cart at Lutheran General Hospital to help children heal by laughing.
“The b mitzvah is essentially a Jewish ‘coming of age’ cer-emony, like you see in many cultures,” Chalom said. “If we want to welcome a child into our adult community, then it just makes sense to encourage them to find something in their Jewish heritage, from the wide sweep of the Jewish experi-ence, that interests and inspires them. That way, their Jewish-ness becomes their own.” n
Kol Hadash Humanistic Con-gregation is holding an FAQ session on humanistic b mitz-vahs on Thursday, Aug. 29. To learn more, call (847) 383-5184.
Susan Addelson is the mar-keting chair of Kol Hadash Hu-manistic Congregation.
How a ‘b mitzvah’ at a Humanistic congregation is different from all others
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Ben Polonsky’s b mitzvah, like Kol Hadash itself, is secular. Members of the congregation connect to their Jewish history and culture in a deeply personal way, without a religious focus.
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