Seventy percent of cultures studied by anthropologists have some formal adolescent-initiation practice. In Judaism, nothing is needed to mark the coming of age moment of a bar or bat mitzvah, when a child becomes an adult in the eyes of community and Jewish law. However, Jewish customs evolved over time to celebrate the milestone in varying ways. Come study what those have been, where the inspiration came from and what philosophical stances were at the heart of these innovations. All backgrounds welcome.

Taught by Elisha Gechter

Elisha Gechter is the Senior Program Manager for Wexner Israel Programs at Harvard Kennedy School and has been working in the Boston Jewish Community for 16 years – previously at Hebrew College and CJP. She has a BA in psychology from Yeshiva University and an MA/MBA from Brandeis’ Heller Hornstein Program in Jewish Leadership and Non-Profit Management. She is currently pursuing Rabbinical Ordination from Yeshivat Maharat in their part-time executive track. Elisha lives in Somerville with her husband and two kids and is President of the Board at Mayyim Hayyim, a pluralistic mikveh and education center in Newton with an international network.