Our highly-experienced teacher is Arlene Needleman.  Arlene has directed TBI's Bar/Bat Mitzvah program for the past 18 years and has also coordinated our youth participation at TBI's High Holiday services over this period.  She and her husband, Steve, are active members of TBI and have three children.  Their youngest, Bonnie, celebrated her TBI Bat Mitzvah seven years ago.

Activities/studies of our students include...

• Studying the various Tefillot (prayers) in preparation for leading of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah service...

• Studying of "The Holocaust" curriculum to give the students a good starting-understanding of the Shoah.  Mrs. Needleman reads with them, shows them various DVDs and YouTubes, and discusses how the Holocaust could impact them today and in the future...

• Talit/Tefillin participation during TBI’s Thursday morning minyan services.  This includes the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrant being called to the Torah, possibly reading a portion of the Torah, and helpng to lead the associated prayer service.

In addition to all of the above, during our students' Bar/Bat Mitzvah year, they are encouraged to seek out and participate in a "Mitzvah Project".  After they've participated in an ongoing basis on their chosen Project, we encourage them to describe it and what it meant to them -- as part of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah D'var Torah presentation.

Pre-Bar-Mitzvah Matthew Medosky with Mrs. Needleman and Matt's Mom/Dad