Since 2011, Jewtor has provided online Bar and Bat Mitzvah tutoring, a personalized alternative to traditional Hebrew school:
Jewtor has worked with hundreds of families to get their kids ready for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. (See our reviews.)
For more and more families, yes. Families come to Jewtor when…
Sound like your family? Tell us a little about your child below, and we’ll reply personally, usually within a day.
“He was confident and poised on his big day….I highly recommend Jewtor as a Bar Mitzvah tutor” – R.A.
“Our son was phenomenal! Thank you so much!” – J.O.
“My son got started late. Our tutor was patient and got his Hebrew reading up to speed. Highly recommend.” – L.P.
Every student’s journey is different. Tell me about your goals and your child, and I’ll reach out to you personally to plan Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons that fit your child’s schedule and background.
Together, we’ll get him or her started in a personal Bar/Bat Mitzvah learning program.
Not sure what your child needs yet? That’s okay. Tell us what you know, and we’ll help you figure out the next step.
There’s no obligation – I’ll personally follow up with you to learn more about your child and answer your questions.
Bettina Schwarzman
Jewtor Founder and Lead Educator
Of course we teach kids how to read Hebrew and chant Torah for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. And we do a lot more, working with each child in a personalized program that also teaches Jewish values and helps them grow. We customize our lessons for each child based on their needs, abilities, and any requirements from your rabbi. Our Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons generally include Hebrew reading, Torah chanting, key prayers, optionally a Haftarah, a Dvar Torah (also optional), Jewish values, and Jewish holidays.
How does it work? For most students, the first half-hour of our online bar/bat mitzvah lessons focuses on the practicalities of learning Hebrew and how to chant their Torah (and Haftarah, if the student will be reading one) portions. The second part of the lesson focuses on Jewish values from reading and analyzing Bible stories, which the kids love. When a Jewish holiday is coming up, we devote time to the holiday, how it’s observed, what its background is, and what it means to us today.
Most of our students start out knowing little or no Hebrew. We get them up to speed in reading and pronouncing Hebrew so they can shine on their big days. Learning Hebrew is the building block for being able to chant Torah and Haftarah, and it is a skill that will help the children well past their bar or bat mitzvah.
We teach Bar and Bat Mitzvah students how to chant their Haftarah, the prophetic reading that follows the Torah reading on Shabbat and holidays. (Not all kids will need this, depending on when and where their Bar/Bat Mitzvah will be.) For this and all components of your child’s personalized lessons, we’ll be in touch with you and the rabbi or cantor who will be officiating, so that your child will learn exactly what they need to for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
We teach Bar and Bat Mitzvah students how to write a short, original Dvar Torah, a mini-lesson, on an aspect of their Torah reading. For kids who do this, it’s a great way for them to find their Jewish voice in creating and delivering a Dvar Torah in English.
At Jewtor, it’s not only about the skills. Yes, we teach how to read Hebrew and chant Torah and Haftarah. But we also teach Jewish values, based on lessons from the Bible and other Jewish texts that speak to Bar/Bat mitzvah students, and we teach Jewish holidays as part of our program.
We’re proud to now be tutoring younger siblings of kids whose older brothers and sisters were our students. And we’re also delighted to continue with students who want to keep learning with Jewtor after their Bar or Bat Mitzvah! Whether you need Bar Mitzvah Prep, Bat Mitzvah Training, or a crash course for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony, Jewtor’s expert Torah and Haftarah tutors provide 1-on-1 tutoring.
Your child needs to learn for their bar/bat mitzvah, and the online bar/bat mitzvah tutors at Jewtor can help your son or daughter learn what they need for the big day. (If you’re looking for an adult bar/bat mitzvah tutor, we do that, too.)
Online Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring isn’t second-best. It can actually work better and faster than in-person classes, because no time is wasted waiting for other kids to catch up to your child. And you don’t have to waste time in the car driving to in-person lessons.
You want a bar/bat mitzvah tutor who can give your child individual, personalized tutoring, to help them learn Hebrew and to chant Torah and Haftarah in a fun and helpful program tailored for them. We understand kids and how they learn.
Especially for families that aren’t affiliated with a temple or synagogue, Jewtor’s tutors specialize in getting kids up to speed gently, so they can learn both the skills for their bar or bat mitzvah day as well as Jewish values and knowledge that they can use throughout their lifetimes.
It’s one thing for your child to learn Hebrew, and Jewish values, and lessons from the Hebrew Bible, and how to chant Torah and Haftarah – that’s what Jewtor does. But this learning isn’t theoretical. While Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons at Jewtor can spark a lifelong interest in Jewish learning in your child, there’s a more immediate goal in mind: the Bar or Bat Mitzvah itself.
Some of our Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and their families are members of synagogues or temples, and the Bar/Bat Mitzvah will simply take place there. But many of our families either don’t live near a shul (synagogue) or a Jewish community. Others want to have their child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah at a destination or near home, or in Israel.
We’re happy to say that some of our tutors can also come to officiate as the rabbi or cantor for your child at their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. This is a great way to build upon the learning experience with a tutor that your child already knows. (When you arrange with your child’s tutor or with one of the rabbis below to officiate, that’s done directly with them, not through Jewtor.)
And we also are happy to recommend rabbis who will travel to officiate at your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Rabbi Jason Miller, The Mitzvah Rabbi, specializes in this, and will travel (and even bring a Torah) to your ceremony. You can contact him at mitzvahrabbi.com.
We can also recommend rabbis for bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies in Israel – some of our families have done bar/bat mitzvahs in Israel, and it’s a great experience. Imagine your child having a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem, or at Masada! For a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Israel, contact Rabbi Steven Schwarzman (one of Jewtor’s owners, along with our CEO, Bettina Schwarzman) at jerusalemrabbi.com.
Our Bar/Bat Mitzvah rabbis and cantors will tailor the ceremony to your needs and the norms of all branches of Judaism – Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and others. We take care of teaching your child what they need to learn, and we can help you find the right rabbi or cantor to officiate at the Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
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.
Yes. We work with families of every background, including interfaith families, secular families, families who’ve converted, and families just reconnecting with Judaism. We meet your child where they are, without judgment, and shape the lessons and the ceremony around what feels meaningful to your family.
Yes. Many of our students have never been to Hebrew school, and others found it wasn’t the right fit. Our one-on-one lessons start from wherever your child is, and kids often progress faster than in a classroom because every minute of the lesson is theirs.
Yes! That’s what we do, and we’ve worked successfully online with our students since 2011. It’s actually more efficient than carpooling to a class.
Of course. Grandparents often set up lessons as a gift. We’re happy to coordinate with whoever is organizing, while keeping the child’s parents involved as well.
Yes, we’re happy to teach twins together, or siblings close in age, and even cousins and friends close in age. And yes, there’s a discount when they do. If there’s a larger age difference, it’s sometimes better to do part of the learning together and part in individual sessions.
Our tutors are rabbis, cantors, and Jewish educators, all carefully screened for qualifications and safety. We’ll match the right tutor to your child, starting with a get-to-know-you video chat with you and your child.
Most kids start learning with us about a year before their bar or bat mitzvah. This gives them time to both learn the skills they need for bar/bat mitzvah and begin to get a grounding in basic Judaism. Some start earlier, and that’s good, because then there’s time for deeper learning of Jewish texts and values, and to really become proficient in Hebrew.
When there isn’t much time, we modify our curriculum to focus on what your son or daughter needs to learn for the day itself. That might include learning the blessings for having an aliyah to the Torah, chanting a short Torah reading, singing key prayers, and more, all based on the time available.
The sooner you contact us, the better, so we can get started right away. And it’s fine to have multiple lessons a week, which will allow your son or daughter to quickly get up to speed. At Jewtor, we are happy to work with you in flexible scheduling, and because all our lessons are online, it’s easy to find times that work for you and your child.
Most kids do an hour a week. That gives time for learning both content and skills.
Some families like to have extra lessons in the weeks before the Bar/Bat Mitzvah for extra practice.
We are available every day except Friday night and Saturday (aka Shabbat). Our tutors work with students around the world and are used to finding times that will work for you.
Lessons can be 30, 45, or 60 minutes. We recommend either one 60-minute session each week, or two 30– or 45-minute sessions.
Our tutors specialize in preparing students for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah reading from the Torah. We focus on the specific Torah portion, teaching the correct trope (cantillation) and pronunciation so your child feels confident and shines.
At the end of each month, we send you an invoice to your email. It comes with simple instructions on how to pay securely.
It happens, and we get that. Just give us 24 hours’ notice in order to not get billed for a lesson that you won’t be able to attend.
Experience the modern approach to Bar & Bat Mitzvah lessons with Jewtor. We’re here to make the learning journey easy for you and your child.
“He was confident and poised on his big day….I highly recommend Jewtor as a Bar Mitzvah tutor” – R.A.
“Our son was phenomenal! Thank you so much!” – J.O.
“My son got started late. Our tutor was patient and got his Hebrew reading up to speed. Highly recommend.” – L.P.
Every student’s journey is different. Tell me about your goals and your child, and I’ll reach out to you personally to plan Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons that fit your child’s schedule and background.
Together, we’ll get him or her started in a personal Bar/Bat Mitzvah learning program.
Not sure what your child needs yet? That’s okay. Tell us what you know, and we’ll help you figure out the next step.
There’s no obligation – I’ll personally follow up with you to learn more about your child and answer your questions.
Bettina Schwarzman
Jewtor Founder and Lead Educator