WHAT IS CONFIRMATION?

Confirmation is a beautiful and inspiring ceremony held in conjunction with the holiday of Shavuot, when young men and women affirm their faith in Judaism.

Knowing that a certain amount of maturity is required for the proper understanding of our faith, the leaders of Reform Judaism introduced the ceremony of Confirmation.  It was regarded as a ritual marking a period of study beyond the Bar/Bat Mitzvah age.  In almost all Reform congregations, Confirmation takes place at the end of the 10th grade in religious school.

Confirmation was widely adopted in our country, because the ceremony captures the spirit of American Democracy, since it provided for the religious equality of young men and women.  The ceremony takes place in conjunction with Shavuot, the festival that traditionally celebrates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.  When the Confirmands affirm their faith in Judaism, they symbolically re-enact the acceptance of the Torah by our people.

Time and Place

The Confirmation Class meets on Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:45 PM as part of the Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School.  There are several additions to the weekly Sunday evening schedule (meetings and rehearsals); please watch the calendar carefully.

Confirmands are required, as part of Confirmation, to attend a mandatory Friday-Saturday retreat.

A Shabbat Evening Service honoring the Confirmands will be held on Friday night, June 3, 2011 at the Plum Street Temple.  The Service will begin at 8:15 PM.  Confirmands will be individually blessed during the Service.

The student-led Confirmation Service is a Shabbat morning service to be held on Saturday morning, June 4, 2011 at 10:00 AM. at the Plum Street Temple.  Pre-service photographs will be taken at 9:00 AM.

Helpful Contact Information

Primary contact for Confirmation issues: Rabbi Ilana Baden 

Other contact information:

Rabbi Michael Shulman or Rabbi Lewis Kamrass 

Phone: 513-793-2556

Fax: 513-793-3322

Confirmation Class Meeting Schedule 2010-2011

Confirmation Special Meeting Schedule 2010-2011

8329 Ridge Road | Cincinnati, OH 45236 | 513.793.2556 | welcome@wisetemple.org