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A Bat Mitzvah at Any Age!.........posted Nov 22, 2009

Wendy Bauman (left) follows the Torah reading
by her classmate Susan Brannigan during a final rehearsal
for their adult bat mitzvah on Nov. 14.
- Photo by Felicia R. Black

Tikvat Israel congregants and guests spontaneously burst into a chorus of siman tov u’mazel tov after the completion of the haftarah reading during an uplifting adult bat mitzvah ceremony Nov. 14 at a standing-room-only Shabbat morning service.

At last, nerves gave way to joy, and the eight b’not mitzvah embraced and basked in the warmth of an appreciative congregation. After a year and a half of study under the tutelage of congregant Kate Jennes-Kahn, the women had learned how to lead various parts of the service, as well as to chant the Torah and, in some cases, haftarah portion. They had marked a spiritual milestone in their journey on the path of Jewish commitment.

Two members of the class, Susan Brannigan and Janaki Kuruppu, are converts to Judaism. The others -- Wendy Bauman, Brenda Brooks, Michele Eisenberg, Rachelle Fobe, Glenda Goldman and Rebecca Salon -- have Jewish backgrounds ranging from Reform to Orthodox. But all have one thing in common: a keen thirst for a renewed commitment to Jewish learning as adult members of Tikvat Israel Congregation.

The adult bat mitzvah celebration marked only the fifth time in the history of the synagogue (which dates back to the 1970s) and the first time since 1996 that adults had participated in such a ceremony, according to the recollections of various congregants and the rabbi.

The formal journey of the latest group originated with Eisenberg’s simple request of Jennes-Kahn, an experienced tutor, about two years ago. Eisenberg asked her if she would be willing to start a bat mitzvah class for adults. Jennes-Kahn, herself a convert to Judaism who has prepared dozens of boys and girls at Tikvat Israel for their b’nai mitzvah over the past 18 years, readily agreed.

Having been part of an adult bat mitzvah class many years ago herself, she said she knew what a wonderful experience it could be. “It did not take me long to decide that I would do what I could to make it happen. And after some thought about curriculum and books, and some discussion with the rabbi and cantor, we were off and running,” she said.

In her d’var Torah, Brannigan noted why she and her classmates had decided to participate in the class. “Some of us were raised as Jews but did not have the opportunity to learn Torah and religious practices as youngsters, while others of us chose Judaism later in life and are only recently becoming acquainted with the traditions,” she said.

Salon, a member of the synagogue for 22 years, grew up in an Orthodox home in the Catskills, so she wasn’t allowed to have a bat mitzvah at age 12. Her formal religious education came to an abrupt halt at that point when the girls in her class were told they no longer needed to continue with Hebrew school.

“I was heartbroken and disillusioned since I envisioned that I would be learning all the things the older bar mitzvahs had learned,” she said.

Salon had to wait for the right time to pursue her Jewish education. “I’ve wanted to become a bat mitzvah for more than 20 years and wanted to do it at TI – this was the first time the timing worked for me,” she said.

In Fobe’s family, the boys had bar mitzvahs when she was growing up and the girls didn’t. “It wasn’t considered necessary,” she said. “After my son Lenny had his bar mitzvah, I wanted to be able to participate more fully in services and have the opportunity to read from the Torah.”

Bauman, whose mother was a convert, said she grew up in a Jewish environment but without any formal Hebrew instruction. “Kate assured me I could do this – I wasn’t so sure, but am glad she didn’t take no for an answer,” said Bauman.

Eisenberg noted that learning about Judaism as an adult “is more meaningful because I want to learn rather than [feeling] I have to learn.”

Goldman, a Tikvat Israel member for more than 30 years, said she had attended a Hebrew class taught by Jennes-Kahn and was thrilled when she was invited to join the bat mitzvah class. One of the things she liked best was the support and encouragement she received from her classmates and her teacher.

“It truly was one for all and all for one in that class and I attribute that to Kate. Kate is really a natural-born teacher,” she said.

Fobe also said she liked the comraderie that developed over time from meeting regularly and studying with her classmates. Similarly, Kuruppu said it was “really nice to share experiences and ideas about a range of topics with a diverse group of women.” Bauman added: “The class made this journey together, and I will always feel a strong bond with my classmates and teacher and the congregation that supported our efforts.”

Several of the women enjoyed having the opportunity to improve their ability to read Hebrew. Brooks said she found she “could progress further in learning Hebrew than I thought in a relatively short span of time.”

When asked what she enjoyed most about the bat mitzvah, Salon replied: “I learned so much about the Shabbat prayers and services and also now know a little about chanting Torah and haftarah. My ability to read Hebrew is also much better.” But most importantly, she added, “I learned that no one is too old to learn and advance our knowledge of Judaism.”

Bauman, a Tikvat Israel member for 25 years, echoed the sentiments of many in her class about whether all the hard work was worthwhile. “Becoming a bat mitzvah was an awesome experience and very moving, definitely worth all the effort,” she said.

In her remarks to her students from the bima, Jennes-Kahn expressed her appreciation for what she had gained personally during their year and a half of study together. “They have taught me well about life, of Jewish identity, about commitment and about being a Jewish woman in this day and age,” she commented.

Now that their bat mitzvah is past, all eight women have expressed a desire to continue their Jewish learning. Eisenberg said, “Every little bit I learn brings me closer to a better understanding of prayers, Judaism and God.”