Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Temple Sinai celebrated both Shavuot and Confirmation. “The idea of Confirmation being celebrated on Shavuot goes along with Jews receiving the Torah on Shavuot. Confirmation study allows students to question, challenge, and debate Jewish issues. Students and teachers focus on issues of Tikkun Olam, and at the same time, as they grow into Jewish adults, they learn to become part of a caring Jewish community” explained Rina Mesarwi, Director of the Temple Sinai Religious School.

Confirmation class is taught by Rabbi Belford. The students spend time exploring different theologies. They begin the course by defining the "traditional" view of God as expressed by the Sages - the idea that God is an external being who is all powerful, all knowing, and all good. Then they look critically at the implications of this traditional view focusing particularly on the concept of "theodicy", which posits that a God who is all good, all knowing and all powerful would not tolerate the existence of evil. Students view clips from modern movies and television shows which portray God in different ways. Then they connect the different theologies to Talmudic stories and commentaries which help them understand them in Jewish context.

Rabbi Annie Belford explained that “Confirmation is when our most committed students once again confirm the importance of Judaism in their lives.  It is no mistake that Confirmation takes place on Shavuot, the ‘Time of the Giving of the Torah,’ since our students are actively accepting the importance of Torah—and all things Jewish—in their lives.”

Our recently confirmed students will progress to the Temple Sinai Post Confirmation class. The students have the opportunity to study together, to socialize, to listen to speakers on different topics, and participate in discussions.

 

Loading image

Click anywhere to cancel