HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A BAR OR BAT MITZVAH WHETHER YOU ARE APPROACHING 13 OR EVEN IF YOU'RE WELL PAST 13, 31, or 51?

Some of the most moving and inspiring moments at Ahavat Torah Congregation have happened when someone in their teens, 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s or 70’s has been called to the Torah to become an adult bar or bat mitzvah.

Imagine for a moment having a wide variety of your friends, family, and colleagues

come to hear you chant and read and interpret the weekly portion. Rabbi Miriam Hamrell and Torah chanting coach Rena Jaffe have helped women and men of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom knew no Hebrew previously or had never before wrestled with a weekly Torah portion to draw out its meaning for our lives today. Because of the gentle and caring way each unique person is prepared for the bar or bat mitzvah ceremony in our supportive congregation, it no longer feels like a “performance,” but rather a chance to let your Jewish soul shine in a very accepting and loving environment.

Nearly every year for the past several years there has been an unforgettable Shabbat at Ahavat Torah where congregants were crying tears of joy and shouting out their appreciation for the amazing blessing that someone who is beloved by the community says with strong intention and passion, “I am here to take my full place as part of this ancient and holy tradition.”

If you weren’t allowed or weren’t able to have a bar or bat mitzvah when you were a teen, maybe now is the time to take your full place in the historic community of conscious Jews. Please contact Rabbi Miriam or Rena Jaffe with any questions or concerns you might have about making this life-enhancing decision.

For more information about the feelings and experiences of recent bar and bat mitzvah celebrants (who were well past 13) at Ahavat Torah Congregation, please see the full weblog article from www.creatingsacredcommunity.blogspot.com (and click on the July 2009 article about Adult Bar and Bat Mitzvah Celebrants). Or if you are a family that is looking for a warm, creative, and personalized way to help your unique teenager become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, please contact Rabbi Miriam Hamrell or Rena Jaffe. There have been some joyous ceremonies in our congregation where the specialized needs of the individual young person were celebrated and honored.