Birmingham Temple
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The Birmingham Temple is the first Humanistic Jewish congregation. It was founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine in Farmington Hills, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit), in 1963.
The Birmingham Temple Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience is rather unique. The Jewish boy or girl picks a hero in Judaism that he or she connects with and writes a rather lengthy paper which is ultimately given to the congregation. The Mitzvah boy or girl works with a mentor (senior member at the temple) in studying many different heroes before finally choosing one to write the paper on. The paper highlights important contributions the individual makes/made in his or her life to humanity, and why & how the hero was humanistic. Unlike other Bar Mitzvah services where there is usually silence throughout, at the Birmingham Temple there is usually a round of applause at the end of Mitzvah presentation for recognition of a job well-done.
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