Adult B'not Mitzvah Class of 5781

To the B'not Mitzvah Class of 5781, Thank you for being a part of this year's class, even with

MAZEL TOV TO OUR ADULT B’not MITZVAH CLASS OF 5781!

the challenges of the time.

As women in all different stages of life, thank you for dedicating yourselves to lifelong learning. It has truly been a pleasure helping you to reach this milestone on your Jewish journey.

May you always believe in yourself. May you continue to find meaning in Torah, avodah (worship) and g'milut chasadim (acts of loving-kindness).

And may you always continue to ask questions.

Mazal tov!

L’Shalom,

Jayne Alexander Jill Forst Karen Forster Mandy Bresler Gavin Debbie Goldsmith Patti Fisher McClung Rebeca Rosenblatt Lori Rubin Mandy Wynick

HERE ARE THEIR JOURNEYS...

Rabbi Alli Cohen congregation

B’nai Israel

year

JAYNE ALEXANDER My desire to become Bat Mitzvah goes back several decades. I grew up in a conservative synagogue in Swampscott, Massachusetts, a small town north of Boston. My father, having survived the pogroms in Russia, immigrated to America as a young boy.

As a result of his early experiences, he became an ardent Zionist and volunteered for many years with the Jewish National Fund and UJA. My sisters and I were taught to be proud of our Jewish heritage. However, our father was not a religious man and did not have a strong belief in G-d as our mother did. Nonetheless, we were a traditional family and attended services with our mom and always stayed connected to our synagogue.

When it came time for me to become Bat Mitzvah, my school work and other commitments were taking up much of my time. Bat Mitzvah studies were not encouraged since my generation celebrated the boys’ Bar Mitzvah and very few of my female friends continued this tradition.

However, my desire to learn and grow as a Jewish woman continued when I attended Hebrew University during my Junior year in college. It was a magical year studying in Jerusalem

Jill forst with students from all over the world.

I attended ulpan that summer and learned Hebrew.

Fast forward to 7 years ago, when my son Gabriel and daughter Sarah were studying for their B’nai Mitzvah here at CBI, I sat with them during each of their tutoring sessions vicariously studying their Torah portion with them!

It wasn’t until my co-workers/friends recently decided to study with Rabbi Cohen that this became possible. It makes it even more special sharing the experience with friends. I am very proud an d excited to reach this goal at this stage of my life. Rabbi Cohen’s beautiful energy and enthusiasm made it even more special. Thank you Rabbi for giving us this opportunity!

Growing up, my sister and I had no formal Jewish education. We went to my aunt’s house for the Jewish holidays and I would walk with my cousins to their shul. The kids would hang out in front of the temple and rarely went inside. When my cousins were going to Hebrew School, I felt lucky that I did not have to go!

When I married and had children, we had traditional Bris’s for my boys.

When my daughter was born, my husband insisted that she be named at a temple. Congregation B’nai Israel was recommended to us and we had Cara’s baby naming at CBI on Boca Rio Road.

We were hooked! We joined the temple, went to services and holidays at local hotels. When the building was completed and preschool started, we became very active. Cara was in the first class at NCECE. I was an officer on the school board, I was on the first Chanukarama committee, and made lifelong friends. We came to services every Friday night. I became Sisterhood president and was on the temple board for several years.

When Mark got sick, CBI was so supportive. Members fed and took care of my children when I was in NY taking care of Mark. When he passed, CBI was amazing. I eventually came to work here, and my coworkers became my family.

Being here has been a learning experience. There are Jewish holidays and traditions that I never heard of!

All 3 of our children became B’nai Mitzvah’ed here. We were so proud.

I did feel a little left out, I was the only one in the family who was never Bat Mitzvah’ed. When my friends began talking about becoming Bat Mitzvah’ed I decided to join them.

It’s truly a learning and bonding experience!

I know that Mark and my father would have been so proud, and I hope they are watching tonight.

MANDY BRESLER GAVIN

karen forster When I was younger, I was not given a choice to attend Hebrew school and become a Bat Mitzvah. As a mom, I felt it was important for my children to learn about their heritage and form a close bond with G-d. They both went to Hebrew school and went to Israel on Birthright and they have the best memories from both of these monumental events.

With working at the preschool and as I’ve gotten older, I felt it was my time to learn to read from the Torah and become a Bat Mitzvah myself. I feel blessed to have this opportunity and to be doing this alongside some of my closest friends at work! This is part of my continuing journey with Judaism and hopefully will culminate with a visit to Israel (top of my Bucket list).

I am thrilled that both my beautiful daughters, my mom, sister and boyfriend are all here to support me and take this journey along with me. I appreciate all their love and encouragement in this amazing endeavor. Even more meaningful is that this is the same Torah portion that my daughter, Taylor, read at her Bat Mitzvah.

Thank you to Rabbi Cohen for this awesome class, her patience and guidance that has led to this night.

And thank you to all the beautiful ladies that took this class with me – I couldn’t be happier to become a Bat Mitzvah with all of you!!

I was born and raised in South Africa, in a traditional Orthodox community.

It was not customary for girls to have a Bat mitzvah. I was envious of my brothers as they chanted for their Bar Mitzvah’s.

When I moved to America 21 years ago, I joined the staff of congregation B’nai Israel as a teacher in the preschool. I also worked for SLJ for 4 years.

During these years I learned to embrace Reform Judaism.

When I was given the opportunity to do my Bat Mitzvah it just sounded right. I never hesitated to say yes!

I would like to thank Rabbi Cohen for all her hard work and dedication in getting me to this point.

PATTY FISHER MCCLUNG

DEBBIE GOLDSMITH Why I am becoming a Bat Mitzvah now?

I was brought up in a conservative home and my grandparents were orthodox…Girls did not become a Bat Mitzvah. All the boys in the family became a Bar Mitzvah but none of the girls did. I have been a Temple member since 1986. In 1991 I studied with my daughter Jaclyn for her Bat Mitzvah and again in 1994 with my son Scott for his Bar Mitzvah and I felt left out because I wanted to be part of the tradition too. In 1997 I signed up here at CBI and started taking Bat Mitzvah lessons. Shortly after, my husband Ira was diagnosed with cancer. I quit the class and our lives became all about his treatments.

Four years later he lost his battle.

Last year after attending the Adult B’nai Mitzvah service all my feelings came flooding back to me and reminded me of what I wanted to do 23 years ago. I walked over to Rabbi Ali and told her that I was going to be her first student in this year’s class. On Monday morning I spoke to my co-workers in the school office and said who’s with me??? Six of us standing in front of you work in the

school office. Two are teachers in the school. One is the mom of one of our past students, and last but not least, one is new to our community and we welcomed her with open arms.

I am joined here tonight by my children Jaclyn, Scott & Jill. My grandchildren Drew, Luke and Paige and other family members and dear friends are here also to celebrate in my accomplishment. Most of all I know that my parents, grandparents, and my loving husband are very proud of me tonight.

Thank you everyone for being here sharing this moment with me.

“My Story in Numbers” 1 – At home, in Miami Beach, our traditional Shabbos dinner was southern style; we ate fried chicken.

My mother would light only 1 candle and my father would sing the Kiddush.

Then 1 cup, in a regular glass with 1/4 cup of Manischewitz wine was passed around the table. All 5 of us would take only 1 sip.

15 – I did not have a Bat Mitzvah.

My synagogue focused on Israel and at 15, my confirmation class travelled there. Afterwards, I was obsessed with Israel. Being Jewish and the traditions would take second.

12 – Pittsburgh/Poway – Anti-Semitic terrorism in the US? How was this possible? They killed 12 of my fellow Jews! As an American Jew, I was not going to let anyone stop me or scare me from attending Synagogue.

I started going to Shabbat services.

One issue: I could read Hebrew only from the English Phonetics side of the siddur. It was time; I needed to learn more.

10 – 10 of us, “Shul Sisters” in the B’nai Mitzvah class schlepped and kvetched many Monday nights to learn Hebrew. We wrestled with this challenge like true Israelites. We will cross the parking lot in the heat to make an aliyah and read from the Torah just like our ancestors before us. Celebrating this important day with my sisters is a true blessing.

Infinite: Baruch Hashem – The number of families lucky enough to have a Jewish education from Rabbi Cohen. She is truly a passionate and patient teacher who amazingly, kept my sisters and I captivated and intrigued every week. Thank you.

2 – Now I can attend Shabbat services and read from the Hebrew side, the 2nd column of the siddur. For the rest of my life, Shabbat dinners with my family is now my new tradition with 2 candles, healthy roasted chicken, and maybe 2 glasses of wine.

REBECA ROSENBLATT Although I was born Jewish we did not practice in our home. I fully embraced Judaism when I met my husband. Mark and his family were practicing orthodox Jews. I found joy and spirituality in the richness of our traditions and was delighted to make that a part of our home.

All my adult life I have worked in a Jewish facility. I have worked for twenty- four years here at CBI. I love working here, playing here and praying here.

Six and a half years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. With brilliant doctors, love and support I fought through and I am happily here today.

I am more spiritual now and stronger than ever. When I was asked if I wanted to participate in the B’nai Mitzvah class I happily joined knowing that I can do anything I set my mind out to do. I feel I was given a second chance in life.

The Torah reading tonight is so special. It is in the Book of Numbers and relates to the counting of our people and families.

LORI RUBIN This journey and learning validates that I do count. I am part of this amazing Tribe the Jewish people with customs and rituals that I can fully participate in now. Standing here today at 62 years of age I feel so complete that I became a Bat Mitzvah. I am so blessed to have many of my friends standing beside me and my family and friends celebrating with me.

Studying to become a Bat Mitzvah has been extremely fulfilling and exciting to me personally! Though I grew up in a Jewish home, I never had the opportunity to become a “Bat Mitzvah”.

It was not until our own children, Jordan and Erica, went to Hebrew school and started their Bar/Bat Mitzvah classes that I always felt something was missing as an adult Jewish woman.

Every night I would hear them both practicing tirelessly while studying and learning their Haftarah portions. I said to myself, “I wish I could do that” and had a feeling of emptiness and sadness.

It wasn’t until several months ago that my friend/co-worker asked me if I wanted to join the Adult B’nai Mitzvah classes with her and several other co-workers. Without any hesitation or thought, I said “Yes absolutely!” After coming home and mentioning it to my husband Saul, who was very excited and supportive of me, I started to think about it and became very nervous as I am not a

public speaker. I knew I would have to get up in front of family, friends, co-workers and other congregants that I did not know. The thought was absolutely terrifying!

I said to myself, “This has been a long time dream of mine and I can do this!” I am here to prove to myself that “anything is possible if you dream it and want it badly enough”.

Thank you Rabbi Cohen for your assistance, and kind words of encouragement!

MANDY WYNICK I was born and raised in a traditional Jewish family in Johannesburg South Africa. While we observed all of the major holidays, my family was not involved in the local Jewish community although we did belong to a temple. I also attended a secular public school and unless you were orthodox, hardly anyone had a bat mitzvah. However, it was very common for girls at the parochial schools to have bat mitzvahs.

In 1992 I started to work at the Nadel Center for Early Childhood Education and my interest in Judaism started to take shape. Celebrating all of the holidays, learning the songs and prayers, attending Shabbat, Purim Shpiels, Passover Seders, and planting trees on Tu’B Shevat, attracted me to our rich history and culture.

While I continued down this path, it was not until last year when the Class of 5779 became B’not Mitzvah did my curiosity pique. If the class was offered in 5780 I definitely wanted to take the opportunity.

When Rabbi Cohen, who has been so inspiring and supportive, offered the class, I didn’t hesitate to complete another part of my Jewish journey. I looked forward to Monday’s classes, learning to read Hebrew, studying my parsha and enjoying the friendship of those on this amazing journey.

My family has been so supportive and encouraging and in June I will be making my first trip to Israel as part of this learning experience.

To my classmates, a hearty mazel tov.

Remember, this is only the beginning.

l e z Ma ! v o T