My Bat Mitzvah Service

 
A Bar/Bat Mitzvah is when a child becomes an adult in the eyes of the Jewish community. On this occasion, the child reads from the Torah in front of the Congregation. We read that Bar Mitzvahs have been a ritual for Jewish boys since the 16th century, but the first Bat Mitzvah ceremony wasn't held until in 1922. (Hope you like these facts as much as I do!) So, as a girl, I’m following in a pretty new religious tradition.

For my Bat Mitzvah I helped lead the entire Shabbat service. I read the Torah portion Yitro, from the book of Exodus. I actually chanted in Hebrew from the Torah without the help of vowels (no simple task, I assure you!)

I was dressed in a white robe and wearing my brother Daniel's talit (a prayer shawl with 613 knots and threads, same as the number of commandments in the Torah). Uncle Richie had brought it back from Israel as a gift to Dan for his Bar Mitzvah in 2003.

At my Bat Mitzvah I was given an official Hebrew name by our Rabbi. My dad gave a speech that I’ll never forget. (It was priceless!) I had so many friends in the audience it was hard to be nervous. My relatives supported me with their thumbs up as I strode down the aisle with the Torah by my side.

Thank you ALL for being there on my special day. I couldn’t have done it without you.