Confirmation

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
Confirmation
8
Sun, 06-03-2007 - 11:32am

What a great weekend we've had! DD15 participated in Confirmation - in Reform Judaism, this is an opportunity for kids to continue studies beyond their Bar or Bat Mitzvah (at 13). It represents a more grown-up approach - they've chosen this more freely than earlier education - and they've taken more of a lead in what they learn.

Leah and four friends (all boys, interestingly) completed the two years of study. They conducted most of the service, and each gave a talk about their "Jewish Journey". Each of the parents gave a short talk also, about what value(s) they hoped their child would take forward from this point. It was a very intimate service, which made it very special. My DD was just wonderful (IM(notso)HO, LOL). She sang in Hebrew, she read beautifully, and her speech was very touching (about how it's hard to always be a just and good person, but it's an important thing to strive for, and how she was inspired by her little brother's questions on this). My parents were able to be here, which was no small feat! My mom just finished six weeks of IV antibiotics last week, and then had to have a tooth pulled - but she rallied to make the trip to see us!

Then yesterday we celebrated my mom's birthday. DD and I made the dinner (Asian flavored Salmon and Sesame Noodle Salad) and DD made the dessert (Angel Food Cake with raspberry sauce). It was delicious. IN the middle of the cooking, we blew a circuit in our kitchen. Since we rent, we don't have access to the circuit box, and our landlady wasn't home. So, some quick rearranging of appliances, and lighting of candles on the dinner table, and the party continued! The up-side was that it was too dark to clean the kitchen, so I got to put that off until this morning when I was rested.

My folks left this morning - and we all felt like we had a really nice (if very busy) weekend.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sun, 06-03-2007 - 8:40pm

The confirmation sounds lovely, Sue, and the rest of the weekend sounds like it couldn't have been more perfect. Well, perhaps the circuit blowing part wasn't exactly perfect, but how awesome that you carried on and had a great time in spite of it.

What a wonderful story!

I guess no kitchen elves showed up last night to clean up? :)

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sun, 06-03-2007 - 9:07pm
Sounds wonderful Sue - when I saw 'confirmation' in the title I was a bit confused.
Pam
Community Leader
Registered: 12-16-2003
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sun, 06-03-2007 - 11:31pm
Congrats to your dd!! That is wonderful. I am glad that you were able to finish up your mom's dinner, candle light is always fun.

Ramona  Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 8:19pm

Lurker here, just had to pop in and say MAZEL TOV! My DD, also named Leah, was also Confirmed on Saturday! She was one of 25 Confirmands (not exactly an intimate service), so everyone did something different -- some did readings, one gave a dvar Torah. My DD wants to be a cantor, so she sang Mah Tovu and Yismechu, chanted Torah, then joined with a few other kids who like to sing for a couple of other prayers. There is also an essay contest for our Confirmands, which another kid and my DD both won! It's $500, to be used for something Jewish. My DD already knows she wants to use it for the March of the Living when she's a senior. I checked your bio, and see that you work with Autistic kids. One of the Confirmands has Asperger's. At his Bar Mitzvah, he'd simply had enough after reading Torah, and he refused to give his speech (the Rabbi read it), but he has really grown and changed since then, and did a great job on Saturday!

Hope you're still kvelling!

Hugs,

Deborah

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 9:56pm
Congrats to your DD, sounds like a big accomplishment.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Tue, 06-05-2007 - 1:58pm
May

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Wed, 06-06-2007 - 1:36am
I've been away from this board for a while but am very glad that I dropped back in to read this. As you know, I am very involved with the teens at our church and think that religious training and faith should play a role in a teen's life. It's wonderful to hear that your DD is making this journey and is finding her way! You have every right to be proud.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2005
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Wed, 06-06-2007 - 12:46pm

Yay for you and congratulations!

My DS 15 AND 18 were both confirmed (Episcopalian) on May 20 - a bittersweet experience for DS 18, who declared it as his "escape from church" and hasn't been back since.

Sigh - only 14 days until hs graduation - I don't know if I'll make it!

BTW - just for the record - having been both a tenant AND a landlord, by law, you HAVE to be given access to your circuit box - they can't deny you access to your power source. You might want to stress that and ask them for a key to wherever your circuit box is kept.