A unique and inclusive B’nai Mitzvah program designed for teenagers 11-15.

The spiritual unfolding of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah process opens the door to a deeper connection between the teenagers, their families, and their spiritual community. Bet Alef has created a space where all three come together in a two-year program through which all are challenged to grow and support one another. We meet every Saturday morning at 10:30 am at the Bet Alef Living Room in the Greenlake neighborhood.

• Bet Alef does not impose an age restriction for the participants. Some teenagers have joined us as late as age 14 or 15.
• As a community committed to interfaith work and inclusiveness, our program welcomes children from many different family backgrounds.
• Bet Alef does not require the families participating in the program to become members of our synagogue, making it more affordable to all. We hope that the nurturing and supportive environment of our community will naturally bring people to feel they have found their spiritual home.
• We believe it is important for each student to enjoy an individual ceremony, and have created a Bar/Bat Mitzvah service which places the teenager at the center, as the co-leader of the worship experience.
• Our program not only engages the children in participating together in a year-long Mitzvah project, but also includes meditation instructions and practice at the beginning of each class.
• We expect all our students to have a solid understanding of the language. If your student is not yet familiar and comfortable with Hebrew, please connect with us to arrange for private instruction, but don’t let this prevent your student from participating

Current 2023 Class Schedule:

January 7, 12, 28

February 4 (Tu B’shvat), 11

Mid-Winter Break

March 4 (Purim), 11, 18, 25

April 1 (Passover 4/6-4/16), 15 (Yom HaShoah), 22 (Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaAtzmaut 4/25-26), 29

May 6 (Lag B’Omer 5/9), 13 (Jerusalem Day 5/19), 20 (Shavuot 5’26-27)

June 3

Contact the Bet Alef office at (206) 527-9399 or administrator@betalef.org for more information.

A joyful Hebrew class for elementary-aged students

26 sessions, Sundays from 10 AM-12 PM in Laurelhurst.   

Students will learn to read, write and speak basic Hebrew in our highly interactive classes that include movement, stories, games, puzzles, cooking, arts and crafts, songs as well as some good old fashioned book learning.  We will study holidays, culture, prayer, history, customs and community- a little bit of everything, and all things Jewish! The class is designed for elementary aged students who are already reading in at least one language.

A Note from the Instructor:

My name is Rachael Baden Roufa and I love to engage my multifaceted students through multimodal learning so that all students have access to the curriculum and a feeling of belonging that enhances their learning and helps them grow as young Jewish human beings.  I’ve been teaching/tutoring typical and atypical learners since…before my Bat Mitzvah, so you might say it is a bit of a calling : ).

Since then I’ve studied, worked, traveled, hiked and I have been raising my own two children – now a teen and a tween. I hail from Massachusetts but have lived on the west coast for almost 25 years.  

For studies, I’m a graduate of the Prozdor, the High School arm of the Hebrew College in Boston(Newton), Mass, and I hold degrees in Linguistics, minor in Spanish (Boston University), Communicative Disorders/Speech Language Pathology (SLP) with a certificate in teaching in the schools (San Diego State University) and certificates in Medical Interpreting (Bentley College).  I continue my studies through book learning, and with live teaching from Rabbi Olivier Ben-Chaim, Rabbi Yoni Levitin, ADL and other Jewish organizations. I’ve taught/tutored children and adults in English, Spanish and Hebrew both in the US and abroad. Since 2015 I’ve taught several classes of Hebrew School in the Seattle Area. I think what I enjoy most about teaching is that human connection with each student, nurturing their growth in the content areas, in the community, and as capable human beings. 

I look forward to meeting all of you!

Contact the Bet Alef office at (206) 527-9399 or administrator@betalef.org for more information.