B’nai Mitzvah
Officiation and Tutoring in South Florida and Destinations Worldwide
Dear prospective B-mitzvah families,
Thank you for considering me to lead your child in becoming a bar/bat mitzvah. It would be my honor to partner with your family in creating a ceremony and learning experience that is highly personalized, meaningful, and authentic.
My philosophy is that everyone can connect to Judaism in their own way. My goal is to guide each student and family to discover what feels authentic to them.
My B'nai mitzvah packages are designed to help each student feel proud of their accomplishments while laying the foundation for a lifelong relationship with Judaism, grounded in their personal identity.
As both a cantor and a musician, my services are grounded in music. I often bring my guitar to enhance the service and I love helping kids find melodies for prayers that they connect with and enjoy most.
To make this journey accessible, I offer several package options and payment plans so families can choose the structure that best fits their needs and timeline.
-Cantor Rebecca Gladstone
What families are saying
"I remember dreading b'nai mitzvah lessons as a kid and was afraid of giving my child that same experience. Rebecca made it something low pressure and special. My son actually looked forward to his sessions every week."— David L., father of a bar mitzvah boy
"We came in knowing almost nothing about Judaism. Rebecca met us exactly where we were, never made us feel behind, and by the ceremony my daughter was glowing with confidence. She didn't just learn the prayers — she discovered a true love for Judaism."— Michelle & Aaron T., parents
"Rebecca has a gift for making Judaism feel joyful and relevant. She worked with my son's love of music and helped him write an original melody for his Torah portion. It was the most moving moment of the entire service. Guests still talk about it."— Stacey K., mother of a bar mitzvah boy
"Our daughter has ADHD and we were worried traditional tutoring wouldn't work for her. Rebecca adapted everything beautifully — her patience, creativity, and warmth made all the difference. Our daughter walked up to that bimah beaming."— Jennifer & Marc R., parents
Adaptive B'nai Mitzvah
Every child deserves a meaningful bar or bat mitzvah, regardless of learning style, ability, or pace. I specialize in creating fully customized, adaptive B'nai Mitzvah experiences for students with learning differences, developmental disabilities, sensory needs, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, and more.
As a board-certified music therapist and cantor, I bring both clinical expertise and deep compassion to each student. We move at your child's pace, using music, movement, visual supports, and creative approaches to make Torah, prayers, and Jewish identity come alive in a way that truly fits them.
Virtual B'nai Mitzvah Tutoring
Distance is no barrier to a beautiful B'nai Mitzvah. All tutoring sessions are available fully virtually via Zoom, making it easy to work together no matter where you are in the world.
Virtual sessions include everything offered in-person — Torah portion learning, prayer study, D'var Torah writing, recordings for practice, and ongoing text/email support. Many families find virtual sessions more convenient, flexible, and just as personal.
- Flexible scheduling across time zones
- Recordings sent after every session for practice
- Day-of travel available for the ceremony itself
Music-Based B'nai Mitzvah — Songwriting & Instruments
What if your child didn't just learn the prayers — but helped create something entirely their own? My music-based approach goes far beyond traditional tutoring. Students can write original songs inspired by their Torah portion or Jewish values, learn to play an instrument to accompany their service, and weave music into every part of their B'nai Mitzvah in a way that reflects who they truly are.
This is especially powerful for students who are musicians, performers, or creative thinkers — giving them a way to express their Jewish identity in a language they already love.
- Original song or melody composition tied to Torah portion
- Guitar, ukulele, or keyboard accompaniment for service
- Creative music-based rituals and ceremony moments
- Songwriting as a D'var Torah alternative or addition
Unique & Untraditional Ceremonies
Not every family connects to a conventional synagogue service — and that's completely okay. I love working with families who want something different: an outdoor ceremony, an intimate gathering, a bilingual service, an interfaith celebration, or a deeply personalized ritual that doesn't look like anything "traditional."
My philosophy is "Finding the U in J(u)daism" — your child's B'nai Mitzvah should feel like them, not like a template. I'll help you design a ceremony that honors Jewish tradition in a way that resonates with your family's values, culture, and vision.
Destination B'nai Mitzvah
Celebrating somewhere special? I travel. Whether you're envisioning a ceremony in Israel, Europe, a family vacation destination, or somewhere meaningful to your family's story, I'm available to officiate and lead your child's B'nai Mitzvah wherever it takes place.
- All virtual tutoring in the months leading up
- Travel to your destination for the ceremony
- Coordination with local venues and vendors
- Travel, lodging, and meals quoted per event