Confirmation (10th Grade)
Early Reform rabbis created the ceremony of Confirmation to provide young people an opportunity to "confirm" their faith as Jews and to assume a rightful role in the Jewish community. Just as the Jewish people at Sinai spoke their acceptance of Judaism, our children are called upon to come before God, their families, and their congregation to say: "Based upon what I understand Judaism to be and upon what it means to me, I am willing to take my place today among the countless generations that have gone before me. I am willing to declare my acceptance, my confirmation of my Judaism." At Temple Isaiah, our teens become Confirmands in their 10th grade year. Any students who are in 11th and 12th grade who have not yet celebrated Confirmation are also welcome. Students enrolled and participating in Makom (in any of its tracks) are invited to participate in confirmation which meets once monthly, usually on Sunday afternoon, with a member of our clergy.
The main components of the Confirmation experience include: community building, learning with temple clergy, a trip to the RAC L'Taken Social Justice Seminar in Washington, DC, and the Confirmation ritual experience on the evening of Shavuot. All of these experiences serve as benchmarks for continued growth and development of Jewish identity and values, as well as allowing our 10th graders to openly confirm their commitment to living Jewish lives.
