Becoming a bat mitzvah is an important milestone in the Jewish tradition as it is a time when a young girl is welcomed into both womanhood and adult Jewish life. While it happens automatically, there is something special about marking this milestone by having a celebration – either an intimate gathering with close family and friends, or perhaps a larger ceremony. For many girls within our community, that comes with a nice party dress, words of Torah and a day dedicated to acknowledging the bat mitzvah’s growth from a young girl into a soon-to-be adult. All these things are the cherries on top of the ice cream, an extravagance that many families cannot afford or for other reasons are not able to provide for their daughters.
For the past two years, Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girl’s Holiday Enhancement Committee (HEC) planned a bat mitzvah party for girls within the community who would not otherwise enjoy such a celebration; the first year for four girls, last year for one and this year for two sisters who are close in age. This year’s Bat Mitzvah Program was chaired by Sophie Dubitsky ‘16, Simi Glicksman ’18 and Shalva Faber ’18. Rabbi Zev Prince served as faculty advisor.
Similar to prior years, the party started with an hour and a half of school-wide dancing, which was followed by a candlelighting ceremony and an after-party dinner for close family and friends. Every detail, from the evite to food to decorations, was planned by the student chairs and reviewed many times by the bat mitzvah girls and their family. While they planned the entire event, even Sophie, Simi and Shalva were pleasantly surprised at how beautifully the whole evening came together.
One task was to secure sponsorships to cover costs associated with the celebration. Jeff Neckonoff of Azamra DJ donated his time and talent to infuse the celebration with music and excitement; Kenny Yager of Five Star Caters provided party nosh sufficient to feed the entire Ma’ayanot student body; Meir Kruter of Kruter Photography donated his services to ensure that the celebration was captured in photos; and Mrs. Nancy Siegel, mother of Hannah Siegel ’16, created sign in boards, complete with personalized initials, for each of the bat mitzvah girls.
In addition to business sponsors, Ma’ayanot received donations from individual sponsors: Dr. Amit and Mrs. Ellie Schwartz, as an aliyat neshamah for Ilana Michal Schwartz, z”l, provided the enhancements that made the celebration feel festive and special; Ma’ayanot parents Jonathan and Leah Adler, in honor of Assistant Principal Ms. Flaumenhaft, made possible the after-party for the bat mitzvahs’ guests; and additional anonymous sponsors donated balloons, cake and presents for the bat mitzvah girls.
Many students utilized their talents to make the party special. Students donated party dresses, did the girls’ hair, makeup and nails, and made a beautiful picture montage that was played throughout the party
The girls’ family was blown away by the event. Indeed, after the celebration, the b’not mitzvahs’ mother noted that her daughters now wish to explore the possibility of attending Ma’ayanot for high school. “Your school has inspired my family! Your girls (all the girls in the school) represent so much of what a young woman should be—strong, smart, confident and most of all nice!”
By Shalva Faber ’18
