At Temple Beth El, becoming a bar or bat mitzvah is more than a rite of passage; it is a process geared toward teaching our children how to become literate and active Jewish adults who are aware of the responsibilities of the mitzvot. In addition to their weekly Sunday sessions, students in grades 4-7 attend our midweek Hebrew classes. Our understanding is that becoming a bar or bat mitzvah marks the beginning of adult Jewish understanding. Students and their families pledge to complete their formal Jewish education through Confirmation in the tenth grade.