Online bar/bat mitzvah lessons FAQs

Got a question about online bar/bat mitzvah lessons, Hebrew tutoring, bar and bat mitzvah tutoring, or other Jewish learning here at Jewtor? Here are some online bar/bat mitzvah lessons FAQs that students ask when they’re thinking about starting to learn Hebrew or study for a bar or bat mitzvah.

Another successful (and clearly happy!) Jewtor online bar mitzvah student, B., at his bar mitzvah
Another successful (and clearly happy!) Jewtor online bar mitzvah student, B., at his bar mitzvah
Where can I get textbooks for learning Hebrew?

Here is a list of Hebrew textbooks that we use with our students.

How hard is it to learn Hebrew?

Learning Hebrew really isn’t as hard as it looks. Yes, it’s a different alphabet (well, a different alef-bet!), but it’s much simpler than English. Think of how many tenses there are in English. Modern Hebrew only has four, and Biblical Hebrew really has only two, with arguably one more. We’ll help you learn the alef-bet, and the sky’s the limit from there.

My family is not affiliated with a synagogue. Can I still sign up my child for online bar/bat mitzvah lessons with you?

Of course you can. We can even help you figure out some ideas on how to organize the happy event, whether that’s in your home town, in Israel, or a destination, including referrals to rabbis who we work with.

What happens if I miss an online bar/bat mitzvah lesson?

It happens, because people are busy! Just give us 24 hours’ notice in order to not get billed for a lesson that you won’t be able to attend.

How do I pay for online bar/bat mitzvah lessons?

At the end of each month, we send you a PayPal invoice to your email. It comes with simple instructions on how to pay securely with a credit card or directly from your bank. You pay PayPal, and they pay us, which means that you don’t have to give us your financial information (and we don’t have to secure it from hackers!).

How often should my child take bar/bat mitzvah lessons?

Most kids do an hour a week. That gives time for learning content (like Hebrew Bible stories and their meaning) and skills (like reading and chanting).

How often should I take Hebrew language lessons?

This is entirely up to you. For language acquisition, frequent is best, but you do what you can. We recommend two or more half-hour sessions a week.

When can I have bar/bat mitzvah lessons?

We are available every day except Saturday (Shabbat). Mornings, afternoons, and evenings, Sunday through Friday, are all usually OK. Well, not Friday evenings! We work with students around the world and are used to finding times that will work for you.

How long are the lessons?

Lessons can be 30, 45, or 60 minutes. If you are studying Hebrew, we recommend two or even three 30-minute lessons a week. Language acquisition experts say the best way to learn a language is to practice it often. Having said that, we understand that this is not always possible, so it’s really up to you.

For bar/bat mitzvah students, we typically do 60-minute lessons, consisting of 30 minutes of Hebrew reading, and 30 minutes of Judaic studies in English, because learning for a bar or bat mitzvah is more than just chanting Torah.

For adult bat mitzvah students, it depends on what you want to learn.
There are many different formats, and what works for one person, doesn’t for another. We’re flexible, and patient!

Can my child get bar/bat mitzvah lessons online?

Yes! That’s what we do. (We also teach adults Hebrew language, synagogue skills like reading Torah and leading prayers, and Hebrew Bible.)

    If you're ready to start your Jewish learning program, contact us. There's no obligation. We're just an email away.

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