B'Mitzvah — Words of Torah (my blog!) — Rabbi Amy Josefa Ariel (she/her)

Posts in B'Mitzvah

Jemma's Words of Torah as She Celebrated Becoming Bat Mitzvah

On Shabbat Ki Tavo, we celebrated with joy as Jemma was called to the Torah and celebrated becoming bat mitzvah. Her words of Torah and her poetry and art are a delight and we are so lucky that she has shared them with us and that she and her parents have given me permission to share them here.

If you have already heard her words and seen her art, you know how delicious they are.
I’m thrilled we can enjoy them again here.

If you are experiencing Jemma’s Torah for the first time, you are in for a treat.

B'MitzvahAmy ArielSeptember 13, 2025Jemma, Torah, Ki Tavo, Jewish Holidays, Bat Mitzvah, Poetry, Art Comments

War: A Prayer for Peace

Before Jemma and I wrote the prayer for peace she prayed during this morning’s Shabbat services, I asked her to think about the war in Israel and Gaza and the West Bank specifically. I asked her to think about young Palestinian and Jewish people her age in the Land. I asked her what images came to mind. She spoke. I took notes. She had questions. We talked about them. Over the next few months, she created an art piece, we wordsmithed, we read it out loud and to ourselves. We considered every word. This is the powerful prayer that came into the world this morning, born of our collaboration.

B'Mitzvah, PrayerAmy ArielSeptember 13, 2025Prayer, Prayer for Israel, Prayer for Peace, Prayer for Gaza, Peace Prayer, Peace Comment

Isaac Hannan's Words of Torah as He Celebrates Becoming Bar Mitzvah!

During Merchav Shabbat on April 19th, Isaac Hannan celebrated becoming bar mitzvah and shared his words of Torah with us. He has given me permission to also share them here.

B'Mitzvah, TORAHAmy ArielApril 24, 2025Isaac, Bar Mitzvah, Beshalach, Passover 5785, 5785, Shoot for the hoop Comments

The Names Everyone Should Know: Mitzi’s Bat Mitzvah Shiur

On July 27th, Mitzi celebrated becoming Bat Mitzvah.
I love celebrating my students for who they are and this student loves to cook. She has a strong Jewish identity emerging from her connections with her family and communities. As we learned together this past year, Mitzi found family recipes she wanted to learn to make and I suggested some to her that had particular histories or came from parts of the Jewish diaspora she hadn’t yet explored. When it came time for her to choose what she would teach about, the choice was pretty easy. I’m honored to share her shiur here with you.
Mazel Tov to you Mitzi, and to your family!

Jewish Education, B'MitzvahAmy ArielAugust 12, 2024B'Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Daughters of Zelophechad, In Memory's Kitchen, Mitzi Comment

Spill the JEWce, my online Jewish YA book club, welcomed teacher, librarian, and author, Kyle Lukoff, to join our circle in September. If you are in a position to welcome and pay an author to come and speak with your community of kids, teens, or adults online or in person, I 10/10 recommend bringing Kyle to talk about his book, A World Worth Saving. Kyle Lukoff joined our circle with warmth, presence, and curiosity. He modeled what it means to listen deeply and respond with heart. Face to face experiences with authors change everything.