Let It Ripple – To create and disseminate educational materials and discussion guides that integrate Jewish learning with neuroscience to support Jewish teens and their families during the b’mitzvah period.

How did the inspiration to combine neuroscience with Judaism come about? 

I had just spent a year making a film on the neuroscience of adolescence for teens called The Teen Brain executive produced by Goldie Hawn. I wanted to delve deeper into how this brilliant idea of our people–the rite of passage of B’nai Mitzvah– supports this critical period of brain maturation. B’nai mitzvah students have to study an ancient language, then chant and interpret it—in public—all while learning how to manage a revved-up amygdala. They then are celebrated in an over-the-top way for their hard work.  They learn early on that they can do hard things, and that these have many benefits. I wanted to teach teens, their educators, and their parents how each part of the ritual is connected to an aspect of the brain and the neuroscientific development.

Who is the ideal audience for your work?

Jewish teens, their parents, and educators—the whole Jewish mishpacha that surrounds a teen as they go through this rite of passage.  We will be developing materials specific to each demographic to help them support the teens in their lives through this important time, as well as materials for the teens themselves. These will include discussion cards, curricula and activities to help everyone understand exactly what the teen brain is going through, and how neuroscience connects to the b’nai mitzvah process.

What are some changes you hope to see come about as a result of your project?

We hope this program will offer another avenue into this powerful ritual, and provide additional levels of connection and meaning for teens and their families. We realized that while some teens and families feel very connected to the ritual, others would benefit from a scientific approach. By providing a new entry point—neuroscience—we hope to help more families connect with the b’nai mitzvah process, and those that are connected to it to have another layer to add to why it’s important.

We also hope to help teens understand their own brains better, and help them build lifelong bonds with the Jewish tradition.