B’nai Mitzvah Family Journey - COJECO B’nai Mitzvah Family Journey

Roots Research Project

Project Roots enables Russian-speaking Jewish families conduct genealogical research and explore their family roots by accessing archives and materials in the US, Eastern Europe and former FSU with the assistance of a professional researcher.

BluePrint Fellowship

The program empowers RSJ change makers to create their own community-building initiatives, with the support of a network of peers, educational workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and mini-grants for project implementation.

B'nai Mitzvah RSJ Family Journey

A customized, year-long family program for Russian-speaking Jewish parents and their children leading up to Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

RSJ Symposium 2019

Convening of professionals building a strong, Jewishly connected RSJ Community across North America. Following two highly successful convenings, the COJECO RSJ Symposium 2019: The Power of Connection will gather participants to share learning and build networks. We will tap into our collective intelligence to address questions shaping the future of the RSJ community as part of the larger Jewish community.

RJKrug

Interested in a unique Jewish learning program co-created by Russian-speaking Jewish families and leading Jewish educators? RJKrug, Innovative Jewish Learning Program For Children and Parents opens its registration for 2019-2020 program year.

Germany Close Up

Bringing Russian-speaking Jewish young adults on 8-day educational trips to Germany to explore the past and present of Jewish life in Germany, and to experience modern Germany first hand.

COJECO New Jersey

We have launched a successful program for adults, children, teens, and families in Northern New Jersey, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

Ukraine: Refugee Resources & Ways to Help

As the war in Ukraine rages on, our community is welcoming more refugees from Ukraine every day. COJECO has been working tirelessly to help people impacted by the War in Ukraine to resettle in New York and New Jersey. Read more about our efforts and Join!

COJECO 20th Anniversary Gala

Join COJECO in celebrating 20 yrs of strengthening the RSJ Community Honoring Val Mandel, Esq, COJECO Founding Board Member, Recognizing RSJ community leaders of Ukraine Emergency Response initiatives and Fashion collection presentation by designer and editorial stylist, COJECO BluePrint Fellow Leonid Gurevich

B’nai Mitzvah Family Journey is an educational program for Bar/Bat Mitzvah aged teens and their parents with B’nai Mitzvah ceremony in New York and a ceremony in Israel.

The program offers:

B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony in New York on February 11, 2024
An organized trip to Israel and a ceremony in Jerusalem (February 19-February 23, 2024)
Opening retreat – Friday, September 8- Sunday, September 10, 2023 at Camp Zeke
8 Group educational sessions for the whole family, September 2023-February 2024
A mentor will be matched with each teen for individual sessions
Mitzvah (volunteer) project
Shabbat dinners hosted and attended by participating families

Families will gather for 8 educational sessions, where parents and teens learn about Jewish history and traditions that have been passed down through generations. * Sessions will take place in person with social distancing rules observed.
Sessions take place on Sundays, 11am- 2pm.
September 24, 2023
October 22, 2023
November 12, 2023
December 3, 2023
December 17, 2023
January 7, 2024
January 21, 2024
February 4, 2024- Ceremony Rehearsal

Each family will choose a personally meaningful Mitzvah Project, practicing the value of Tikkun Olam- acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world. They will also deepen their engagement with the community and each other.

Individual sessions for teens will give them an opportunity for personal Jewish exploration with a knowledgeable mentor.

Program Cost: $4,100
Program cost includes:
* All educational sessions for the whole family (including teens, parents, and siblings)
* Family retreat at Camp Zeke
* Individual sessions with mentors (up to 6)
* Group ceremony and celebration in NY (up to 7 family members included in addition to the B’Nai Mitzvah teen)

Israel Experience Cost
Israel experience will cost $1,350 for every person traveling. It will include all ground costs (hotels, transportation, tour guides, entrance fees). It will not include airline tickets (each family will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements). *Registration for Israel Experience takes place after the cohort is launched and is separate from the Program Registration.

Program Registration is complete only upon receiving the full payment. Payment can be made by regular check, electronic check or credit card

*To Pay by Check:
Please put in “0” in the amount paid upon registration and then press submit.
Please make your check for $4,100 payable to COJECO and mail it to:
COJECO 729 7 Ave 9 Fl
New York, NY 10019
*add B’Nai Mitzvah in the check memo

To Pay By Credit Card:
For your convenience, you may pay the full amount with a credit card using our online payment system. Please note, you need to add 3.5% processing fee to the total amount, making your registration fee $4,245.

Past cohorts’ photo and video gallery
B’Nai Mitzvah Family Journey 2020-2021
B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony in New York, June 20, 2021

B’Nai Mitzvah Family Journey 2019-2020
Opening Retreat in Poconos, September 20-22, 2019
B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony in New York, February 9, 2020
B’Nai Mitzvah Ceremony in Israel, February 22, 2020

B’Nai Mitzvah Family Journey 2018-2019
B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony in New York, February 10, 2019
B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony video
B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony in Jerusalem, February 21, 2019

For more information

or if you have any questions, please e-mail
Yigal Kotler at:

yigalk@cojeco.org

COJECO was formed in 2001 as an umbrella organization for grassroots community organizations of Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants in New York to make their voices heard and respected. Today we represent over 30 such network organizations, including young adult leadership groups, Holocaust Survivors, professional associations, arts & culture organizations, and social justice groups.

729 Seventh Ave,
9th Floor,
New York, NY 10019

Tel: 212-566-2120 E-mail: info@cojeco.org

Website by Limus Design

Thank you for your interest in receiving updates from COJECO!

A verification email has been sent to your inbox. Please click the "Sign Up" link in the email and indicate your newsletter preferences to begin receiving updates about the Russian-speaking Jewish community of NY.

Thank you for signing up for updates from COJECO!

Our programs: