On Wednesday, May 17, Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls threw a bat mitzvah for the ages. The bnot mitzvah were two residents of the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Ruth Weiss and Mitzi Krampf, who were celebrating their bat mitzvahs for the very first time. The bash was initiated by Michal Rosenfeld, Yonina Segal and Shira Rothwachs, three graduating seniors at Ma’ayanot who envisioned the celebration—from learning Torah with the women to party-planning details—as part of the school’s senior encounter program.

To make this special event come to life, the students coordinated with Sunni Herman, executive vice president of the Jewish Home at Rockleigh. “I love that the students initiated this program,” said Hermann. “It’s much more than glitz and glam, music and food. It’s so meaningful.” Beyond planning a party with a regal theme, the students traveled to the Jewish Home on a regular basis to study Torah with the women.

“They learned one-on-one,” said Herman. “There’s a special bond and a beautiful spiritual component. This bat mitzvah shows that learning Torah has no age limit,” said Herman.

In each of the past few years, Ma’ayanot students have thrown bat mitzvah celebrations for local young women who otherwise would not have had an opportunity to enjoy such a celebration. The Ma’ayanot students have made the annual bat mitzvah a highlight of the school year.

On their special day, Mitzi and Ruth arrived at Ma’ayanot along with their friends from the Jewish Home as well as their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were greeted by the entire student body and faculty, as well as Jeff Neckonoff of Azamra DJ (www.azamradj.com), who donated his time and talent to infuse the celebration with music and excitement. “Let’s hear it for Ruth and Mitzi,” he called out. “It’s simcha dance time!”

Meir Kruter of Kruter Photography (www.kruter.com) also donated his services to ensure that the celebration was captured in pictures. Kenny Yager of Five Star Caterers (www.fivestarcaterers.com) and Eliot Rosenfeld of Jerusalem Restaurant and Catering (www.jerusalempizzaelmoraave.com) provided party food. Dr. Amit and Ellie Schwartz sponsored the event for an aliyat neshama for Ilana Michal Schwartz, z”l. Dr. Stuart and Hadassah Weinberger (parents of Allie, ‘20) sponsored the decorations.

The students signed posters for the two bnot mitzvah with messages like, “Mazel tov! You look beautiful,” and the seniors also presented each woman with a bat mitzvah gift, an electric candelabra that they can use to light Shabbat candles in their rooms.

“Every Jewish girls should have a bat mitzvah,” said senior Shira Rothwachs. “We believe that it is never too late to celebrate.”

“It was shocking to us that so many ladies have not had a bat mitzvah,” said her classmate Yonina Segal. “We take for granted that we had one.”

“This year’s celebration is particularly poignant because of the intergenerational element,” added Rabbi Zev Prince, director of co-curricular programming and the seniors’ faculty advisor. “One of our core educational philosophies is that our students should develop the courage and tools to lead and innovate, while maintaining an appreciation of the heritage and rich tradition to which they belong. This bat mitzvah was an affirmation of both these values. These graduating seniors possess the vision and they are utilizing their talents to pay tribute to these exceptional Jewish women and role models.”

“This experience can only happen once in a lifetime,” said Weiss. “I sincerely thank and appreciate all the hard work these young girls did to make my bat mitzvah so very special. Thank you for bestowing this honor on me.”

Krampf added, “I had such a wonderful time. Everyone and everything was grand. I felt like a real princess. Thanks to all the students who made this experience possible for me.”

Ruth Weiss was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. In high school, Ruth ranked first out of 9,000 students. She graduated from Eastern College in New York and worked for many years as an executive private secretary for a chemist at a cosmetic company. Ruth has two sons and one daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was married for 34 years and her husband passed away in 1988.

Mitzie Krampf was born in Brooklyn, New York. She has a daughter and a son. She used to work at Littman’s Jewelry. Mitzie enjoys Broadway shows, travel, cooking, music and gardening. She also loves dancing, singing, crafts and pet therapy. Mitzie participated in the Jewish Home’s annual musical production.