Adult Education

Adult Secular B’Mitzvah Program

Did you miss the opportunity to have a B’mitzvah (bar/bat mitzvah)? Were you unable to have a B’mitzvah because of gender or were you misgendered at your B’mitzvah? Did you have a B’mitzvah but are seeking a different experience?

Class Objectives

The UJPO/Morris Winchevsky School’s Adult Secular B’Mitzvah Program is a chance to cover big Jewish questions and some fundamentals of Jewish “ancestory”, history, and contemporary identity. Drawing on a set of Jewish texts from across the centuries and around the world, we will critically examine where “tradition” comes from and what it might mean to us in a secular Jewish context. Our curriculum explores Jewishness as a civilization of many diverse cultures and practices, and approaches our rich history & present from perspectives focused on social justice. We do not assume prior knowledge of Jewishness or Judaisms.

Class Structure

Every two weeks, the whole class will meet with the facilitator to discuss short readings and broad questions of Jewish history and identity; on the alternate weeks, students will meet with a classmate for an hour to discuss the week’s homework assignment. Each participant will also have an opportunity to do a research-informed project of their own choosing on any topic related to Judaism(s)/Jewishness, and everyone will have the option of presenting their work in a closing celebration for friends, family, and the wider UJPO/Winchevsky community.

Class Details

Where: TBD in a downtown location.

When: Monday evenings from 7 – 9 pm. 7 week biweekly program, with an expectation of 6 rotating chevruta partners to meet for one hour in the off-weeks.

New Dates: February 26, March 11 and 25, April 8 and 29, May 6 & 27

Ceremony in early June, date TBD

Who: Sharoni Sibony as Adult Educator.

How: In-person

Class size: min/max: 10 +

Cost: $280 / UJPO member, $322 / non-member

For more info: info@ujpo.org or 416-789-550

Adult Education Course Facilitator:

Sharoni Sibony is an experienced and enthusiastic educator across multiple disciplines. After completing her BA and MA at the University of Toronto, she pursued a PhD in English Literature at Indiana University. She worked and volunteered for nearly a decade in Jewish educational programming and event management at the Jewish Community Centres of Toronto, Ashkenaz Festival, Limmud Toronto, and the Ontario Jewish Archives: Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre. She has been a lecturer, tour guide, pottery instructor,

and book club facilitator in various venues across the Toronto community. She is excited to share her passions for Jewish life, history, arts, and culture with the MWS community.