Be Mitzvah is designed for learners aged 11-13 as a journey of discovery and exploration. Run over 8 group sessions and 1 family experience, Be Mitzvah invites young people to explore what it means to be, belong, and become a Jewish adult. Be Mitzvah invites learners to embrace identity, responsibility, and pride through creativity, ritual, reflection, and community.
relevant accessible learning
At Shtiebel, we believe that Jewish learning should feel personal, joyful, and deeply connected to real life. Everything we do is grounded in our core values — openness, inclusivity, accessibility, creativity, and community. We meet people where they are, celebrate the diversity of Jewish expression, and help families shape a Jewish life that feels authentic, modern, and meaningful.
Be Mitzvah embodies those values. It is Shtiebel’s pathway into Jewish life — eight monthly gatherings and one family experience that weave learning, creativity, and community into a shared journey of discovery.
Created especially for learners aged 11-13, this program is open to everyone — whether your child will celebrate their b’ mitzvah with us at Shtiebel, in another synagogue or community, or with a simple, beautiful family gathering at home. Wherever and however your family marks this milestone, Be Mitzvah offers a supportive environment to deepen your child’s understanding of what it means to be, belong, and become within Jewish life today.
This is not a program about memorising or performing; it’s about becoming — stepping into responsibility, identity, and pride. Through conversation, ritual, art, music, food, and acts of justice, learners explore the ideas and values that have sustained our people for generations. Each gathering mirrors the rhythm of Jewish time and the movement from being to belonging to becoming.
Participants will build a foundation of knowledge, connection, and confidence that will continue to grow long after their b’ mitzvah celebration. At its heart, Be Mitzvah helps every young person reach a place where they can say, with authenticity and pride: “I’m that Jew — connected, curious, and proud.”
flexible structure
Be Mitzvah unfolds across eight monthly gatherings and one shared family experience — a journey of connection, creativity, and curiosity. Together, we explore what it means to live Jewishly in an ever-changing world, drawing from the ancient wisdom of our tradition and applying it to the questions and choices of modern life.
Each gathering is hands-on and experiential, blending storytelling, learning, creativity, music, and discussion. Learners come away not just with knowledge but with tools for thinking, feeling, and living as part of the Jewish story.
In keeping with Shtiebel’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion, the program runs monthly on Sunday afternoons and welcomes new learners at any time during the year. Families can join the program whenever it suits them — beginning, middle, or end of the year. Whether your child begins with a session in February or October every learner is supported to find their own rhythm and pathway into Jewish life.
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Eight Core Gatherings – exploring Jewish identity, ritual, purpose, and responsibility
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One Family Experience – Sacred Time: Shabbat and Family Ritual
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Personal Preparation – reflection and ceremony planning
Our approach ensures that no matter where a family is in their Jewish journey — deeply engaged, rediscovering connection, or just beginning to explore — there’s a place at Shtiebel for you.
our learning journey
1. I’m That Jew — Identity and Our Story
Every Jewish journey engages with the question, Who am I? Learners explore their own story through art, storytelling, and reflection, creating personal “identity collages” that link family histories and Jewish heritage to their own unfolding journey.
2. There Is More Than One Way to Be a Jew
Through stories, games, and conversation, participants discover the richness of Jewish diversity — from cultural to religious, secular to spiritual, Progressive to Orthodox — understanding that there are many authentic ways to live, believe, and belong.
3. V’ahavta — Ritual Objects and Sacred Touchstones
Judaism makes holiness tangible. Learners explore the mezuzah, tallit, t’fillin, and Shabbat candles, uncovering how physical objects connect heart, mind, and action. Each creates a personal ritual item linking their story to Jewish practice.
4. Two Jews, Three Opinions — Debate and Discussion
Questioning is sacred in Jewish life. Through lively debate, chevruta (paired) study, and exploration of famous Talmudic conversations, learners practise curiosity, critical thinking, and respectful disagreement — discovering that how we argue can be just as important as what we believe.
5. Kashrut — We Are What We Eat
Food is central to Jewish life. Through cooking, tasting, and conversation, participants explore Jewish approaches to food — from kashrut to conscious eating — and discover how shared meals connect values, identity, and community.
6. Memory and Resilience — Antisemitism and the Holocaust
In partnership with the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, learners encounter stories of courage and moral strength. The focus is not on trauma, but on resilience — exploring what it means to inherit a story of survival and transform it into purpose and pride.
7. One People — One Zionism
Belonging extends beyond borders. Learners explore the diverse meanings of Zionism today, encountering stories of Jewish life around the world and discovering Israel’s place in our shared story.
8. Social Justice and Community Responsibility
To be Jewish is to act. Guided by tzedek (justice) and chesed (kindness), learners put Jewish values into action through community projects that support Mazon Australia, The Shtiebel Street Pantry, and other local initiatives.
family expereinces
Jewish life invites us to pause and sanctify time. This shared experience brings families together to explore the rhythm of Shabbat — rest, renewal, and reconnection.
Families can choose between two creative pathways:
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The Havdalah Workshop – Craft a braided candle and spice pouch, learning how light, scent, and song help us carry holiness into the week ahead.
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The Challah Bake – Gather to knead, braid, and bake challah, sharing blessings, conversation, and gratitude around the table.
Both experiences root Jewish learning in warmth, togetherness, and the rhythms of sacred time — reminding us that holiness begins at home.
We invite you to make a time to come in to meet with our team to explore how we can create a tailored learning program for you.