Making Bar and Bat Mitzvah Preparation More Joyful!
For twelve and thirteen year olds with learning differences and disabilities, the preparation for bar and bat mitzvah can be more stressful than joyous. For some, a learning process focused on Hebrew decoding, memorizing and speech writing can be an obstacle. For others, the celebration, often marked in the context of a “packed” synagogue on a Shabbat morning, can be terrifying. This webinar will help you prepare for this important life cycle event by tapping into your child’s interests and strengths, and introducing approaches such as adaptive technologies, music and art to help make the process more enjoyable for all.
Howard Blas
Howard Blas, MA, MSW, is the Director of the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England, providing camping and vocational experiences for young adults with special needs. He is also a consultant on special needs camping programs for the National Ramah Commission and is a Jewish studies and bar/bat mitzvah teacher for students with special needs. He holds masters degrees in social work and special education. Howard is a contributor to the Connecticut Jewish Ledger, the Jerusalem Post, DASH, the Times of Israel and Babaganewz. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Time Out New York and various parenting publications and professional journals. Howard received the S'fatai Tiftakh Award from Boston Hebrew College and the 2013 Covenant Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
