Tutor + Ritual Designer / Facilitator
Tutor + Ritual Designer / Facilitator
I provide a full scope of training for bat/bar/b’mitzvah students: teaching learners to read Hebrew, lead a Shabbat service, chant Torah and/or Haftorah, and engage with text and commentary to prepare a drash/teaching. I work with students 11 years and older.
I take the time to understand each student's needs, learning styles, and interests and have experience working with all kinds of learners. I’ve developed successful strategies to help students who find typical classroom learning to be a challenge to learn and master b’/bat/bar mitzvah skills.
My particular gift is teaching traditional synagogue skills in a way that makes them come alive for 21st century kids and their families. I love to design and facilitate services that are welcoming, accessible, and inspirational for every kind of family —those who are steeped in Jewish tradition and those new to Jewish ritual, interfaith families, and families of all configurations.
“Julie is a source of inspiration, wisdom, comfort and good cheer. She brings joy and transcendence!”
“Julie is a truly exceptional and gifted teacher. She has a unique way of making all the teachings and rituals accessible. Our children were enchanted and inspired. Any student – of any age – would be lucky to work with her. ”
“Julie is not just a patient, loving, and kind person. She is also a fantastic teacher. Working with her over the course of the year leading up to my Bar Mitzvah did not entail any of the anxiety, pressure, and stress I had feared after hearing so many other people’s experiences preparing for Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Working with Julie, I felt that I had gained not just a wonderful teacher but also an invaluable addition to my Jewish community. My Bar Mitzvah is an event I am proud of to this day, and I can say with certainty that Julie is every bit to thank.”
“I realized I wanted to work with Julie the day of my sister’s bat mitzvah. I was nine years old at the time and remember calling Julie the next day to ask if she would tutor me. She warmly accepted, and my early enthusiasm for her grew exponentially when we began to work with each other – three years later. It was a privilege to learn from Julie and enter the transformative process of becoming a bat mitzvah with her as my guide. Julie’s rich knowledge of and infectious appreciation for Torah and liturgy ignited an engagement with Judaism that allowed me to own the experience for myself, and not just oblige my family and community’s expectations that I would fulfill this custom. Her unparalleled skills as an educator made the training, as well as the event itself, profoundly rewarding. With each challenge—whether it was the Hebrew, the learning of prayers, or the writing of my drash—I could count on Julie’s graceful, thoughtful, and empowering dexterity to guide me. I still recall the bittersweet feeling I had on the day of my bat mitzvah: joy at the milestone, but sadness that my weekly sessions with Julie had ended. But the gifts of working with Julie have only deepened in the ten years since my bat mitzvah. When I think back to our work together, I feel appreciation for her guidance and ability to awaken my connection to Judaism.”
“I wish all of my teachers were like Julie. She’s so kind and understanding. She encourages me and that makes me want to learn more.”
Consultant + Guide
Consultant + Guide
Are you unsure how to start planning for your child becoming a bar/b’/bat mitzvah? Feeling overwhelmed by the choices? Or not even sure what choices you have? Concerned about how to meet your family's special needs?
We can schedule a consultation to talk about bar/bat/b’mitzvah options in the Bay Area and to help with your decision-making process. In a 1-2 hour meeting, I learn about your family and your child and share with you the range of possibilities for rituals, both independent and synagogue-based. I answer any questions you have about the content or process of becoming a b’/bar/bat mitzvah and identify resources that would be useful to you.
After the meeting, I send you a detailed e-mail with the names and contact information of tutors and facilitators that I think would be a good match for you, along with other helpful resources including books, websites, and ideas for venues and music.
We can meet online or over the phone at a time that works best for you.
“Julie served as an incredible mentor, and religious and spiritual guide to our family as our children became B’nai Mitzvah. Our family deeply values the experience we had with Julie as she led us all through the journey of the children becoming adults.”
“The first time I attended a bar mitzvah facilitated by Julie, my cheeks were stained with tears nearly the entire time. I was incredibly moved by Julie’s presence in the moment, her sincere relationship to the child she was guiding, and the spirit she brought into the service. I was particularly touched by Julie’s explanations to the audience, especially for those attending for whom a bar mitzvah might be a new experience. Half way through the service I turned to my husband and said, ‘This is the experience I want for my children.’ Julie brought great love, joy and spirit to both our son and daughter’s bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies…. we would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a truly special ceremony.”
“My husband grew up calling his bar mitzvah study ‘Hebrew prison,’ and his memories of his Bar Mitzvah are neither positive nor inspiring. My children’s experience with Julie was the farthest thing imaginable from their dad’s experience. They - and we - experienced an incredibly amazing, affirming and inspiring event that was better than we ever expected. Julie understands intuitively how to connect with tweens and teens, and they adore her. I was worried because my children have different personalities and are extremely different learners. I shouldn’t have been. Julie knew exactly how to work with each of them so that, in very different ways, they were able to master the material and shine on their day. And how magical those days were! We are a mixed family and for many in our extended family, this was their first time at a bar or bat mitzvah. Others were conservative and had certain expectations about what the day would hold. Julie’s services somehow have meaning for all. I’m not sure if it’s her incredible singing, the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, the fact that she speaks from the heart and doesn’t read a pre-written speech, or, more likely, all of the above, but whatever the reason, we are unbelievably glad we found her.”
Custom Siddurim
Custom Siddurim
I can provide my own siddurim/prayerbooks for your family’s ritual or we can make a customized prayerbook/siddur.
Working with you, I create custom prayerbooks/siddurim with full camera-ready Hebrew texts (translated and transliterated) along with your favorite poetry, prose and artwork.
Family Stories
Family Stories
Amy Ferber
I have had 2 kids who are now almost 16 and 13. Both have gone through Bat Mitzvah training and services with Julie Batz, and I am here to speak of praises for Julie. Julie is an extraordinary teacher and spiritual guide. Her dedication to Torah, her wisdom, and her kind, gentle and radiant spirit have inspired our family, and Julie has been a sparkling, special and awesome teacher for both of my kids!
Julie has a knack for understanding and supporting each child as an individual. During weekly meetings around her kitchen table, she connected with each of my children... understood their individual challenges and hesitations with learning to read and chant Hebrew and also with getting up in front of people during the service itself. She helped them embrace the learning in a very calm and easy manner. And she helped them move through this year long ritual with grace.
During the actual Bat Mitzvah service, Julie set a tone for the ritual which truly felt spiritual and special. She incorporates music and singing and does a great job explaining the process of the service so that everyone feels included and enlightened. Surprisingly, my kids actually loved the whole process... which was not a given for 12 year olds. Throughout the year, I saw my kids change and develop and grow. And they did it under the glow of Julie's loving manner. I feel like her magic worked on me, too.
Ayelet Waldman + Michael Chabon
Four times Julie Batz has shepherded our family through the strenuous and demanding years of bar/bat mitzvah preparation. Four times she has been a source of inspiration, wisdom, comfort and good cheer. Four times we've watched suspicious, even grudging, Hebrew and bible neophytes grow into scholars. And the ceremonies! We learned the hard way the first time to place the video camera at a slight remove lest the sound of the bar mitzvah's chanting be drowned out by Mama's sobbing.
With every bar mitzvah friends and family have crowded around to tell us that the experience was like nothing they'd ever experienced. One good friend even said it redeemed his own bar mitzvah misery. We always told people that it was because of Julie. She brings the joy and the transcendence with her.
Kim + Steven Marder
Julie will forever be a part of our family story. Julie served as an incredible mentor, and religious and spiritual guide to our family as our children became B’nai Mitzvah. Our family deeply values the experience we had with Julie as she led us all through the journey of the children becoming adults. The process of working with Julie to study the Torah, learn the prayers, and explore what it meant to be productive members of the community was so meaningful to our children. We love Julie and feel blessed to have her in our lives.
Sophie Hahn + Eric Bjerkholt
Julie Batz is a truly exceptional, gifted teacher and friend. She worked with two of our children on their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and they both were inspired, enchanted, and learned more than we could ever have imagined. She has a unique way of making all the teachings and rituals of the Jewish religion accessible, engaging and delightful to consider. Our family has been secular for several generations, and in addition to giving our children the gift of a religious experience of Judaism, she brought along our whole family, opening our hearts and minds to a world of meaning we had not been part of. Julie is extremely wise, has a great sense of humor, and is welcoming and loving with all her students, families and in her connections to the world. Any student – of any age – would be lucky to work with her. I may follow in my kids’ footsteps myself, and finally have my own Bat Mitzvah someday – but only if Julie will be my teacher!