Kabbalat Torah

The major emphasis of our religious education is centred on Kabbalat Torah, which is the culmination of the children’s formal education. After completing 8 years at Ivriah, the student attends Kabbalat Torah classes.

Recognising that Bar/Bat Mitzvah, although significant for many, does not, in modern society, mark a child's becoming an adult, the ceremony of Kabbalat Torah at age 15 allows girls and boys to affirm their commitment to Judaism as a consequence of a personal decision. Kabbalat Torah is a firmly established religious observance in Liberal Judaism. It evolved because the founders of Liberal Judaism felt that at the age of 13 students were too young to declare a commitment to the community and to end their formal education. At the age of 15 it is felt that they are able to have a more mature and personal understanding of Jewish values.

Kabbalat Torah encourages students to think about issues in their lives and in society as a whole, through the lens of Jewish tradition and Liberal Jewish values. They are also invited to participate on trips to places of Jewish interest in the UK and Europe. As a result, many of our students cement lasting social relationships with fellow students during these years. Kabbalat Torah runs from Bar and Bat Mitzvah, culminating in the ceremony created jointly by the students and the Rabbis.

During Kabbalat Torah, most students will have the option to prepare for and take GCSE Religious Studies - Judaism. Many post Kabbalat Torah students come back to Ivriah to become class helpers, and later a number choose to become teachers.