CCAR RESPONSA
New American Reform Responsa
34. Confirmation and Bar/Bat Mitzvah*
QUESTION: Our congregation has had a long history of Bar/Bat Mitzvah and not a great deal of emphasis has been placed on Confirmation. Should this be stressed by me as Religious School principal? What is the purpose of Confirmation today? (Sarah Klein, Newark NJ)ANSWER: When Confirmation was established by Israel Jacobson in Seesen, Germany in 1810 in his pioneering school and synagogue it intended to accomplish two purposes: (a) It recognized the need to educate beyond twelve or thirteen the traditional age of maturity for girls and boys, and (b) it demonstrated the equality of men and women in the synagogue. Through the years Confirmation has continued to play a significant role in Reform Jewish life serving to stress both purposes. Slowly the age of Confirmation has been moved to sixteen or seventeen; in some congregations it is the equivalent of high school graduation. At that age a different understanding of Judaism has been acquired especially when compared to thirteen. As the emphasis on Bar/Bat Mitzvah continues to be linguistic despite efforts in other directions, it limits Jewish education. The youngsters in order to do their Bar/Bat Mitzvah portion will need to study Hebrew and to spend a great deal of time upon that, at the price of other Jewish studies. Ideally that should not be so, but realistically it occurs particularly with youngsters who have some trouble with the Hebrew language. Confirmation emphasizes a general knowledge of Judaism and so continues to be important alongside Bar/Bat Mitzvah. It has not been seen as the Reform equivalent of Bar/Bat Mitzvah for some time. Every effort should be made to use Confirmation as a way of attaining a broad Jewish education, ideally to high school graduation. Some congregations as mine in Pittsburgh continue to confirm in the tenth grade, but we encourage our youngsters to follow our high school program and about sixty percent do so. We might, therefore, say that this approach offers youngsters an intermediate goal and, so serves a good educational purpose. In addition to these purposes, Confirmation has added new meaning to Shavuot. This important holiday which celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments was not widely celebrated by the general Jewish community. Confirmation has brought new spirit to this day and added significance not only for those confirmed but for the entire congregation. Confirmation has lost significance, but it remains important. As this ceremony has had a good effect on the general observance of Shavuot and on the educational pattern of our young people, we should continue to give Confirmation a significant place in our religious calendar.January 1989
If needed, please consult Abbreviations used in CCAR Responsa.