This document summarizes a presentation by Rabbi Debbie Bodin Cohen about her work developing a Confirmation curriculum. She explores the history of the Confirmation tradition through old photographs showing how customs have changed over time. Students learn about Confirmation in other faiths and Jewish history. They discuss meaningful elements of Confirmation and create a class pledge. The presentation provides details about the Twersky Award which recognizes Jewish educators and shares submission requirements.

1. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Twersky Winner Tells All
with Rabbi Debbie Bodin Cohen
Confirmation: Joining the Legacy

2. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change

3. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Who is this person?
What did this person do?
Why did they do it?
Who am I?
What do I do / What do I
want to do?
Why do I do it?
You Cannot Be What You Cannot See

4. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
What is the Twersky Award?
• Named for Natalia Twersky, the
mother of JWA’s founding
director, Gail Twersky Reimer.
• Celebrate, honor, and
recognize our educator
partners
• Share best practices
• Weaving in the stories and
voices of Jewish women
• Deep engagement with primary
sources

5. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Who am I? Debbie Bodin Cohen

6. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Why focus on the history of
Confirmation?
● Connect students to the
legacy of the Confirmation
tradition
● Explore Confirmation
customs and how they are
molded by social forces
● Apply learning to derive
greater meaning from the
Confirmation ceremony

7. Photo 1

8. Confirmation Class from Temple Israel, Columbus, OH—1888
Photo 2

9. Beth El Confirmation Class, Tyler, TX—1915
Photo 3

10. Photo 4
Beth Israel Confirmation Class, Beaufort, SC—1926

11. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
What do we see?
• White dresses
• Flowers
• More girls than boys
• American flag
• Variety of ages

12. Confirmation Class of the Free Evangelical Brethren Church,
Portland, OR—1920
Photo 5

13. Henrietta Szold
http://jwa.org/womenofvalor/szold

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Inspiring Change
Confirmation at B’nai Jeshurun, 1948

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Inspiring Change
Nancy Wolkenberg Greenblatt recalls
her Confirmation experience, 1948
“1948 was a seminal year for me. I was one of 15 girls who
were the Confirmation Class of 5708. Amazingly, I can
identify more than half in the photograph. We decided to
continue as the Confirmands League, meeting for regular
study on Shabbat afternoons at the home of Rabbi Panitz.
It was a wonderful and enlightening experience to see my
rabbi as a family man in his home environment. (I
remember his eldest son, Jonathan, who became a
chaplain at the U.S. Naval Academy, as a baby in the crib!)”

16. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Prayer for Confirmation, 1881
Once more we approach the throne of thy
majesty, O Lord our God, to thank thee for
the holy hour, we have celebrated on this
Shevuos festival. We have promised, to
be thine, to cling to thee and our religion,
and pray: grant us thy spirit, that we may
carry out our sacred vows; gird us with thy
strength, that we may never falter, and in
all circumstances remember the day of
our confirmation. Accept, O Father, the
offerings of our youthful hearts; listen to
our fervent prayers, that this day may be a
day of joy to our dear and good parents,
and may follow our lives and thoughts
forever more. Amen!

17. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
General Arc of Confirmation Unit
Class Session 1: Look at old photos and discuss
conventions of Confirmation, similarities and differences.
Class Session 2: Explore Confirmation in other religious
traditions, as well as in American and European Jewish
history.
Class Session 3: Discuss the meaningful/memorable
elements of confirmation; relate this to one’s own
Confirmation expectations and Jewish journey thus far.
Class Session 4: Study a prayer for Confirmation and
create a class pledge to use in the class’ Confirmation
service.

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Inspiring Change
Students document their Jewish
journeys
The whole class,posing before the congregation’s

19. What questions do
you have?
How might you use
these ideas in your
work?

20. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
About the Twersky Award
• Any Jewish educator working with students in grades
6-12
• Apply for the award or nominate a friend/colleague
• Two prizes
• Winner receives $2,000 + $400 for their school/program
• Finalist receives $500 + $100 for their school/program
• Deadline is Monday, May 11, 2015

21. Sharing Stories
Inspiring Change
Submission requirements
• Statement of purpose
• Lesson plan
• Classroom product (handout, assignment, etc.)
• Two examples of student work
• Two letters of support (from supervisor,
colleague, student, parent, etc.)

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Inspiring Change
Other Examples

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Inspiring Change
TWERSKY FINALIST TELLS ALL
Thursday, March 19 @ 1pm
With Twersky Award Finalist Rabbi Michael Rothbaum