The Bat Mitzvah Project (BMP) aims to revolutionize the experience of becoming a bat mitzvah.  HBI, in collaborative partnership with Moving Traditions, is designing a program to make the bat mitzvah a more meaningful experience, while fostering self-confidence and a strong Jewish identity.  Geared for Jewish girls ages 11 to 13, BMP gives participants opportunities to actively engage with their peers and with trained leaders who serve as their role models.  The girls meet monthly to explore issues facing them during the adolescent years, all through a Jewish lens. 

The BMP follows the curricular structure of Moving Traditions and will be incorporated into its program Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing!. This intimate and enjoyable monthly celebration of the Rosh Hodesh (New Moon) holiday draws on Jewish teachings to help girls in grades 6-12 acquire the skills they need to stay healthy, in order to prevent eating disorders and other risky behaviors.

Started in 1999 by Hadassah Brandeis Intern Ali Feldman, BMP grew into a multi-city, international program with over 100 participants.  The Bat Mitzvah Project completed its two year pilot in the spring of 2006. It will become part of Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing! and marketed nationally by Moving Traditions in 2008.

In its pilot phase, the Bat Mitzvah Project addressed the needs of Birthright Israel alumni, giving them the opportunity to be madrichot (counselors) with bat mitzvah-aged girls.  When Birthright participants return from their trips to Israel, they are often excited and energized by their experience and looking for ways to explore their relationships to Judaism and the Jewish community.  Involvement in the BMP program as madrichot provided stronger ties to the community and a greater understanding of their Jewish heritage.  The madrichot served as leaders and role models for the girls, nurturing their growth throughout the year-long program.

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