You Won't Believe Sivan Rahav Meir's Next Project: A Bat Mitzvah Workshop

In a few days, media personality Sivan Rahav Meir will launch a new workshop designed to prepare girls for their Bat Mitzvah. In the spirit of the COVID-19 era, the workshop will be conducted entirely online, without leaving the house.

"Over the years, many girls around the age of 12 have approached me, seeking content, meaning, and experience around this special date," Rahav Meir shares. "I always dreamed of doing something like this, and COVID-19 inspired me to build a short, focused program with everything I believe is important and worthwhile to know and do."

Boys have the laying of tefillin and reading from the Torah; what is important for girls to do as they approach age 12?

"Both boys and girls become responsible and committed on this date. They receive the greatest gift - the connection to the Torah and mitzvot. During this period, many Bat Mitzvah events have been canceled, and many plans have changed. This is an opportunity to focus on the essence, not on the venue, guests, and gifts - though they are also important - but on the significance of a Bat Mitzvah."

What can you do together with girls at this age?

"Many Bat Mitzvah girls have met me in the past, and I was surprised by their knowledge and curiosity. This is an opportunity to learn together, reflect on our place within the chain of generations, and the uniqueness of each individual. In another session, we'll learn how to speak publicly and write a speech for the Bat Mitzvah. Additionally, we will interview family members for a Bat Mitzvah movie. We'll watch clips and videos, discuss the screen era and the challenges of this age, and much more. This is a preliminary pilot starting next Sunday."

Is the workshop aimed at secular girls, or will religious ones also find it interesting?

"The workshop is intended for girls from all sectors. We discuss values, the connection to heritage, building self-confidence and backbone in the face of today's challenges, and a personal connection of each girl to her family's heritage. From my experience, all sectors seek meaningful experiences around this age."

The workshop includes three sessions with the girls, followed by a final virtual meeting with parents, featuring Sivan and parent coach Ziva Meir, to address questions about raising children in the current era.

You've worked in media for years as a senior presenter. Why speak with 12-year-old girls?

"They are the next generation, the future of the Jewish people. All last week I participated in live broadcasts from the Knesset about the new government, while at the same time refining this project and asking myself what is more important. The headlines focus on the Knesset and the government, but speaking with 12-year-old girls about Judaism and their contribution to the world seems equally important to me."

A broad question, but an important one: How do you summarize your time in the U.S.? What was the most significant insight you took from there?

"Wow, we still haven't fully absorbed it. We returned in the middle of our mission, fleeing home because of COVID-19, and we are still a bit in shock. There are many insights, and perhaps we'll write and summarize more in the future, but my most urgent thought is about the Israelis there. We have about a million brothers and sisters in America, Israelis and their children, and they usually don't send their children to expensive Jewish education, but to public education. It's a tremendous challenge, and I've started several projects on this topic. I hope we can continue to connect with them remotely from here."

And after the Bat Mitzvah initiative, what's your next project? Are there more surprises up your sleeve?

"I think all of us, during the COVID-19 period, rethought things and came up with many creative ideas. Currently, the Bat Mitzvah project starting next Sunday is a small dream coming true. The additional dream is simply to relax a bit, be with my children, with my husband, and not lose these gifts from the isolation and COVID-19 period. There's a message in Psalms: 'Be still, and know that I am Hashem.' Let's all learn to relax a little."

For details on Sivan's new venture - click here.